Sun Valley Magazine | Summer 2023

BRONCOS

THE KINGS OF RODEO IDAHO BORN & BRED

Photograph courtesy of David R. Stoecklein

Hand glazed cast raku ceramic

38.75 x 26.5 x 16.5”

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BY PATTI MURPHY

BY PAMELA KLEIBRINK

BY PAMELA KLEIBRINK THOMPSON

WILLIAMS

ON THE COVER

A moment of pure concentration and grit by cowboy and horse trainer Jake Flint from Marsing, Idaho. Flint rides a King Rodeo Company horse in the more traditional sport of “ranch saddle bronc riding”—something you won’t see in rodeo competition today, but practiced just like they did 100 years ago when breaking horses (see “Kings of Rodeo” story on page 58).

PHOTOS BY HILLARY MAYBERY

PHOTO BY HILLARY MAYBERY

A Photo Essay of the Ancient North American Bird

BY LAURIE SAMMIS

PHOTOS BY

NANCY WHITEHEAD

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We leverage the relationship between place and building to create lasting memories for future generations. Nature, craft, and design - luxury defined. DEREUSARCHITECTS.COM | 208.726.7750 SUN

Photographer: Gabe Border

†MORE STORIES

The Sun Valley Magazine website, at sunvalleymag.com, is user friendly and incorporates responsive design so that you get the same award-winning content on phones, tablets or desktop computers. On our site you will find all of our print stories, as well as a wealth of additional online content, including resource guides, videos and online features. Look for the best of Sun Valley life in our Arts , Food & Drink , Community, Health , Adventure , Home & Design , and Wedding sections. You can also enjoy digital editions of Sun Valley Magazine in our extensive archives and access all of our social media sites.

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Commitment. Resolve. Dedication.

Strong words that summon a vision of people who are filled with determination and compelled to make deep sacrifice. Images of individuals with grit and tenacity, steely nerves and single-minded focus come to mind. And to be sure, the pages of this Summer 2023 issue of Sun Valley Magazine are filled with individuals who embody these characteristics. Consider the legacy of professional bareback rider and MMA fighter, college professor and all-American cowboy Kelly Wardell (“Idaho Tough: A look at the legacy of a rodeo champion” on page 70). His targeted training regimen and mental toughness allowed him to return to competitive bareback riding at the age of 51—where he competed at a national level and qualified for the National Finals Rodeo (NFR), becoming the oldest bareback rider in history to do so (a feat he continued until his mid-50s).

Read about the determination and discipline of personal trainer and competitive female bodybuilder Emily Knowles (“World Champion bodybuilder flexes her muscles” on page 68), or the meticulous care, endless hours, and detailed breeding that have produced the majestic horses of the King Rodeo Company stock, which is the source of our cover horse and one in a long line of what have been called the finest bucking horses in the West (“Kings of Rodeo” on page 58).

Learn about the work of author and Pulitzer Prize nominee Mark Trahant, who isn’t afraid to write and rewrite, and rewrite again, and who will be inducted into the Native American Hall of Fame this October 2023 (“The National Native American Hall of Fame honors distinguished Idaho journalist” on page 66). Follow the trajectory of local Cassie Abel, who, when faced with a tough decision, used it as an opportunity to build something completely new and inspired by her own life and drive (“Are You Abel to Get Wild” on page 30). Wild Rye, the company that launched out of that pivotal time in Abel’s life, is mission-driven, environmentally conscious, on the rise, and built to last. Local Mattie Mead of Ketchum’s Hempitecture has a

similar story (“Material Things” on page 32), drawing inspiration from wanting to change the sustainability of an important industry; while Wood River Valley local Alex McCoy is working to redefine how we think about sustainable meat (“New Game in Town” on page 34). Discover how each of them found inspiration and dedicated themselves to the pursuit of their objectives in this issue.

Each of these stories was built upon deep conviction, willpower and resolve. They each required hard work and steadfastness. But, also, here is the secret in each of these stories, and the many more that thread through both the pages of this issue of Sun Valley Magazine and our shared community: If you are following your passion, something that you believe in and that feeds your soul, then these words magically transform into another type of narrative. It is a story that is embodied by words like devotion, engagement, purposefulness and reverence—the result of when an undertaking, enterprise or work flows directly into the pieces of a life.

Perhaps our job is to discover what most sparks each of us in our world and then to give ourselves wholeheartedly to that endeavor with authenticity, devotion and courage. It is the shared passion for the written word and the storytelling of our shared community, made manifest on the page in the most authentic and true way, that inspired the team of writers and photographers, designers and editors, who collaborated on this issue—and it almost didn’t feel like work throughout the chaotic frenzy of most of the deadlines.

What ignites your world? This could be your year of infinite possibility. Please share your story. We would love to help tell it.

Laurie Sammis publisher / editor-in-chief

Fly Fishing in Montana can be a rugged, sometimes-tiring adventure—that’s why Madison Double R will be a welcome respite at the end of each day.

Located on 2 miles of the world-renowned Madison River south of Ennis, Madison Double R offers first-quality accommodations, outstanding cuisine, expert guides, and a fly fishing lodge experience second to none. Now accepting bookings for the 2021 season.

STEVE DONDERO PATTI MURPHY

HILLARY MAYBERY

PAMELA KLEIBRINK THOMPSON

A Sun Valley native, Steve Dondero is a multi-faceted commercial, editorial, product, portrait and nature photographer based in Ketchum. After more than a decade in the corporate world, Steve’s passion for photography began while chasing sunsets and wildlife in some of the most beautiful corners of the globe, including Africa, India, Iceland, and South America. He has a gallery in Minneapolis, over 30 prints on display at Zenergy, and a studio in Ketchum. To order prints of any of his images, schedule a photoshoot, or check out more of his photography, visit stevedondero.com.

“Profiles: Emily Knowles,” page 68

Patti Murphy is an award-winning writer who has covered topics ranging from architecture to wildlife; crime to travel; food, history, pets, and more. After a 35-year career in non-profit, corporate and government public information, she became a full-time writer with her work appearing in publications including Sun Valley Magazine, Idaho Mountain Express, Idaho Statesman, Twin Falls TimesNews, New York Times, Oregon Coast Magazine, Northwest Travel Magazine, Boise Weekly, Idaho Business Review, and others. Born into a family line peppered with journalists and writers, she was raised in the tropics of Miami, moved to the deserts of Phoenix, and then settled in Boise in 1997 where she and her spouse share space with a rambunctious Australian Cattle Dog, feisty blind Chihuahua, and a cat who thinks she is CEO.

“Kings of Rodeo,” page 58

writers B en Bradley, Kate Hull, Sarah Linville, Jonathan Mentzer, Patti Murphy, Laurie Sammis, Hayden Seder, Pamela Kleibrink Thompson, Winter Warchol, Claudia Weathermon, Lori Williams

Everything this former professional snowboarder does is filled with energy, which is just one of the requirements for charging up a mountain, hiking through the woods, or wading through deep water to capture those climactic moments of peak emotion. From her home in Sun Valley, Hillary Maybery skis, fishes, hikes, and rides, living the same lifestyle she documents, giving her images an expert but approachable aesthetic. She’s passionate about documenting the outdoor lifestyle and taking photographs of people when they’re at their peak stoke levels!

“Kings of Rodeo,” page 58; “Wedding Stories,” page 110

While others might collect art, stamps or coins, Pamela Kleibrink Thompson likes to manage people, a skill she uses in writing, recruiting, and career coaching. An animation veteran (The Simpsons, Family Dog), and now as a career coach, she helps creative people pursue their passions. She’s been published in more than 125 different publications and also writes children’s picture books. She is active in the Idaho Writers Guild and is involved with the Idaho film community.

“Shaping Idaho,” page 78

photographers M ichelle Beller, Steve Dondero, Keeley Eliason, Ray Gadd, Dev Khalsa, Amanda René Nagy, Hillary Maybery, Jaynie Parrish, Halsey Pierce, Nils Ribi, Barbi Reed, Kirsten Shultz, Nancy Whitehead

flySUN

WINTER 2022/2023

publisher/editor in chief L aurie C. Sammis

managing editor J onathan Mentzer

guest art directors L illie Cooper K ristina Mitchell

de sign assistant S vetlana Mitchell

s ales & marketing director M ona Warchol

c opy editor Patty Healey controller Brenda Carrillo

c irculation director Nancy Whitehead

Sun Valley Magazine Online: sunvalleymag.com email: info@sunvalleymag.com

Sun Valley Magazine Awards

2018 MAGGIE AWARDS

Finalist, Best Feature Article - “Primal Necessity”

2017 MAGGIE AWARDS

Finalist, Best Feature Article - “The Long Journey Back” Finalist, Best Profile - “A Life in the Sky”

2016 MAGGIE AWARDS

Finalist, Best Feature Article - “The Great Migration”

2015 MAGGIE AWARDS

Finalist, Best Annuals & One-Time Custom Publication/Consumer

Finalist, Best Cover/Consumer

2014 MAGGIE AWARDS

Finalist, Best Annuals & One-Time Custom Publication/Consumer

2013 MAGGIE AWARDS

Finalist, Best Semi-Annual & Three-Time/Trade & Consumer

Finalist, Best Special Theme Issue/Consumer

2012 MAGGIE AWARDS

Winner, Best Semi-Annual & Three-Time/Trade & Consumer

2011 MAGGIE AWARDS

Finalist, Best Semi-Annual & Three-Time/Trade & Consumer Finalist, Best Special Theme Issue/Consumer

2010 MAGGIE AWARDS

Finalist, Best Semi-Annual & Three-Time/Trade & Consumer

Finalist, Best Special Theme Issue/Consumer

2010 OZZIE AWARDS

Gold Winner, publication fewer than 6 times per year

2010 EDDIE AWARDS

Gold Winner, publication fewer than 6 times per year

2010 IDAHO PRESS CLUB Best Magazine Serious Feature & Best Blog

2010 MAGGIE AWARDS

Finalist, Best Semi-Annual & Three-Time/Trade & Consumer 2009 MAGGIE AWARDS Winner, Best Semi-Annual & Three-Time/Trade & Consumer

Top 50 SV Bucket List

Summertime Must-Do’s

We celebrated our 40th-anniversary summer issue 10 years ago and gave the public a top40 bucket list. Fast forward to now, and we’re almost 50! So, once again, we offer up an updated bucket list of our 50 favorite activities to do because, let’s be honest, if winter brings people to the Sun Valley area, then the summers keep people here.

3

EXPERIENCE THE MILKY WAY:

The Sun Valley area is right in the middle of the Central Idaho Dark Sky Reserve, which means on a clear night, explore constellations under our stunning night sky to see the Milky Way.

6

SEE A SHOW AT THE ARGYROS:

The Argyros Performing Arts Center is a great place to see a variety of entertainment in downtown Ketchum. From standup comedy, film festivals, live music and interpretive art.

Tee off at 5,000 feet and watch your ball fly! Drives go a lot farther here, and the Valley offers several world-class courses. 1

PICKLEBALL:

Invented in 1965 in Bainbridge, Washington, pickleball is emerging as a local favorite in Sun Valley. There is enough pickleball all summer, with 19 courts throughout the Wood River Valley.

2

GRAB AN INNER TUBE:

Floating the river systems in the Sun Valley area is great because of the ease of access.

Sections of the Big Wood River, Salmon River, Boise River and the Lazy River (a secret location in the Stanley Basin) all offer the perfect way to cool off on hot summer days.

PLAY A ROUND OF GOLF:

GO FOR A HIKE:

With all the endless and stunning hikes in the area, one of our favorites is Pioneer Cabin. Built in 1939, Pioneer Cabin is nestled at 9,400 feet in the Pioneer Mountains.

RIDE THE TRAILS:

5 4 7

Both Ketchum and Hailey offer free singletrack and pump tracks for all mountain bikers. Check out the new BCRD Quigley Trails Park in Hailey for the latest and greatest pump tracks and downhill trails.

PLAY IN THE DIRT: Go to Sun Valley Garden Center or the Sawtooth Botanical Garden and get inspired!

EAT, DRINK AND BUY LOCAL CRAFTS:

A new location and a new day, but the same great community feel, the weekly Farmers’ Market in Ketchum (Forest Service Park on Wednesdays) and Hailey (Roberta McKercher Park on Saturdays) are the perfect places to enjoy local food and crafts.

READ A BOOK: Chapter One in Ketchum has a terrific selection, and our local libraries are top-notch.

DRINK LOCAL BEER: The Sawtooth Brewery and Warfield Distillery & Brewery in Ketchum and Sun Valley Brewery in Hailey offer the Valley a range of hop choices with local ingredients that make a cold local brew a perfect end to the day.

LOCAL TIP

For the true brew fans, don’t miss the Sun Valley Brewfest on June 17 at Festival Meadows. Try great beer from over 20 local and regional breweries.

VISIT GALENA LODGE: A little over 20 miles north of Sun Valley, Galena Lodge is a great spot for a hike, bike ride or a fabulous lunch like Lava Lake Lamb burger!

GO HORSEBACK RIDING:

There are loads of riding options around these parts, but it’s tough to top trotting along Dollar Mountain’s wildflowerfilled trails!

VISIT HEMINGWAY’S OLD HANGOUTS: Ketchum is littered with places “Papa” loved to hang out. So, it’s easy to retrace his steps to the bars at Michel’s Christiania or the Alpine Club (now Whiskey’s) or to enjoy a “Hemingway’s Special Daiquiri” at the Duchin Lounge. His memorial on Trail Creek, dedicated in 1966, is also worth a visit.

SHOP IN TOWN: Lacking any chain stores, the Valley is loaded with shops that offer a one-of-a-kind boutique and intimate shopping experience, sure to please any shopper.

HAVE A SCHOONER OF BEER:

GO CAMPING:

Sun Valley sits at the base of five mountain ranges and has a plethora of land to camp with spectacular vistas, amazing fishing or relaxing vibes.

LOCAL TIP

For true relaxation, nothing beats a warm fire in the wilderness to roast marshmallows to make s’mores. With its cool night-time summer air, Idaho’s wilderness area is the perfect balance for a crazy life.

PLAY TENNIS: Sun Valley has a long, impressive history of high-quality tennis. Atkinson Park in Ketchum and Wood River High School in Hailey have quality public courts, and the Sun Valley courts are excellent.

SOAK UNDER THE SKY: Frenchman’s Hot Springs, west of Ketchum, is one of several great local hot spring options.

Grumpy’s is more than just a beer and burger bar; it’s an institution in Ketchum. Popular with everyone from working-class locals to the biggest stars on the planet, no summer is complete without a schooner—or several—on the deck of Grumpy’s!

ICE SKATE IN THE HEAT: With three rinks in the Wood River Valley, this town loves ice skating. People can skate at Campion Ice House in Hailey and the indoor and outdoor ice rinks at Sun Valley Resort. Don’t miss the legendary Sun Valley Ice Show, either!

HAVE A GLASS AT A WINE BAR: The ever-growing popularity of local wine bars is pleasing the Sun Valley crowd. Try Sun Valley Wine Company, Scout Wine & Cheese and Roots Wine Bar & Bottle Shop for all wine needs.

EAT AROUND THE WORLD: Sample the Italian Beef Bolognese at Aroma, indulge in the wild Baja shrimp tacos and a tequila flight at Barrio 75 or the Asian street fare at Rickshaw or dive into a bowl of spicy pork posole at Rasberrys or the Peruvian lomo saltado at Serva. It’s all here in the Valley!

AMERICANOSTRICHFARMS.COM Order

23

CATCH A FREE CONCERT:

The Sun Valle area offers plenty of free music throughout each summer week. “Ketch’em Alive” offers live music each Tuesday; “Wicked Wednesday” at The Spud is the place to be in Hailey, and Hailey Live is rockin’ on Thursdays at Hop Porter Park; and “Jazz in the Park” is a cool way to spend a Sunday evening at Ketchum’s Rotary Park.

BLAST

One of the most popular activities in Idaho is white water rafting, and there are plenty of local options to satisfy that wild side.

GO

You can go for a swim in any direction in this area. Jump in the Big Wood, drive up to Redfish, or hang at Alturas. During a hot summer day, nothing beats a cool-off.

LOCAL TIP

27

To

FLY

For another challenge, hike up to an alpine lake and place your fly on Baker Lake, Titus Lake or Norton Lake for some exercise and an isolated fishing experience.

TAKE THE KIDS FISHING:

Family put-and-take ponds can be found at Dollar Lake, Lake Creek or Hayspur Hatchery!

29

GRAB A COWBOY CUT: Nothing beats a cut of prime rib at Ketchum’s worldfamous Pioneer Saloon. Where time seems to almost stand still, especially at the start of each ski season.

28

GO TO A PARADE: We love our parades around here, and there are lots of ‘em! Between Hailey’s popular Fourth of July Parade and the Big Hitch Parade (part of Ketchum’s annual Wagon Days celebration and one of the nation’s longest non-motorized parades) and lots in between, summers in Sun Valley are marked by parades.

BEST CUPS OF JOE IN TOWN: Have a Bowl of Soul at Java or the Brown Sugar Latté or CCR (with housemade caramel, espresso, steamed milk and coconut whip cream) from Black Owl Coffee, or the Oat Matcha Latté from Café Della.

GO TO A RODEO: Catch cowboys and cowgirls kicking up their heels at the Hailey Rodeo Grounds.

32

DINE AT 7,700 FEET: Take the Sun Valley gondola more than halfway up Bald Mountain for a remarkable meal at the historic Roundhouse; the octagonal restaurant has been serving patrons since 1940.

33

MOUNTAIN BIKE BALDY: The lift-assisted singletrack and flow trails on Baldy are some of the best and most well-groomed trails in the Valley.

LOCAL TIP

For more downhill riding, check out the Galena Summit trail system. For a fun day, rent some mountain bikes from Galena Lodge and send it!

34

GET SOME ICE CREAM:

Toni’s and Yellow Belly both create mouthwatering local ice creams like Toasted Coconut and Real Mint Chocolate Chip. For a fun and old-school experience, visit LeRoy’s Ice Cream stand in Ketchum.

35

GO FOR A MOTOCROSS RIDE: Numerous local canyons and the track in Croy Canyon west of Hailey offer terrific dirt bike riding. 36

VISIT THE SAWTOOTH FISH HATCHERY: Learn about the amazing 900-mile journey salmon and steelhead make from the sea to the heart of Idaho.

37

GO TO THE SYMPHONY:

Sun Valley summers are not complete without at least one visit to The Sun Valley Music Festival, an admission-free series recognized by BBC Music as one of the best classical music festivals in the country!

45

OPEN THE DAY WITH YOGA

AT RIVER RUN:

Having a serene moment in the mountains opens the mind. Enjoy Yoga at River Run for a free one-hour class held outdoors on Tuesdays and

46

ELEVATE YOUR FOOD SKILLS:

The Sun Valley Culinary Institute offers both public and private cooking classes. From learning about how to make a mean gyro to a crab cookout, you’ll learn new skills to brag to all your friends.

38

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FLY SUN VALLEY: Paraglide off Baldy and high above Ketchum with Fly Sun Valley.

PLAY MINI-GOLF:

Sun Valley offers a putt-putt course; you can play with the kids, or you can simply enjoy a Bloody Mary and lunch at the Clubhouse.

LOCAL TIP

40

TAKE A DAY TRIP TO STANLEY:

A little over an hour away, Stanley is nestled alongside the Salmon River and offers stunning views and easy access to the Sawtooth Mountains.

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Slow down and take your time. A drive to Stanley offers amazing photo ops up and down the highway. When seeing the Sawtooth Mountain Range for the first time, try to keep your eyes on the road.

TAKE A STROLL DURING GALLERY WALK: Sun Valley Gallery Association’s exceptionally popular, free monthly gallery walks are wine-friendly events and a big part of why we’ve been named one of the Best Small Art Towns in the nation.

42

BALLET

SUN VALLEY: For a splash of culture, watch Ballet Sun Valley bring the world’s most celebrated ballet companies and dancers to the Sun Valley area.

43

TAKE A PADDLEBOARD OUT: Between Redfish Lake, Alturas, Petit and Magic Reservoir, there are plenty of places to paddleboard. And you can even paddleboard the Big Wood at certain times.

44

CANOE SILVER CREEK: The clear waters, trout-filled in all sizes, Silver Creek Preserve is an ideal spot for casual canoe trips.

RENT A MINI-CABIN:

Visit the historic Idaho Rocky Mountain Ranch and book a dinner reservation and stay in a cabin or spend the night at one of Smiley Creek’s yurts.

48

GO TO A LITTLE LEAGUE GAME: Nothing says summer quite like baseball and hot dogs. The Ray Nelson Baseball Tournament—Idaho’s oldest Little League tournament—is full of excitement, smiles and memories.

49

MOREL HUNTING:

One of the all-time favorites for locals, hunting for morel mushrooms can be a very rewarding activity. It’s fun for the family and great on a pizza!

SWIMMING HOLE AT

THE

BIG WOOD RIVER:

The swimming hole behind Church of the Bigwood is a local favorite to cool off and take a quick dip before your next summer adventure.

VISIT STANLEY, IDAHO

Nestled

Memorial Day Run

Live Music Every Weekend

4th of July Fireworks

Dark Sky Reserve Star Gazing

Thursday Night Street Dances

Educational Events & Lectures

Sawtooth Salmon Festival

Sawtooth Festival for Arts, Crafts & Food

Are You Abel to Get Wild?

Cassie Abel brings cutting-edge women’s apparel, Wild Rye, to the public

BY SARAH LINVILLE

Cassie Abel had to make a decision: keep her dream job or stay in the town she loved.

It was 2015, and Smith Optics was relocating many of its positions from its birthplace of Ketchum, Idaho, to Portland, Ore. Abel was working as a global communications manager for Smith. It was a hugely difficult decision, but ultimately her desire to stay near the mountains she loved to play in won out.

“It was really scary, but I’m so glad I stayed,” remembers Abel. “I still love Smith, but them leaving was the kick in the pants that I needed.”

During her career working with outdoor brands, Abel observed the inequity in gear made for women. There was a lack of investment and storytelling about recreating in the outdoors from the perspective of womenidentifying individuals and their unique needs from their gear.

Often sport-specific clothing is initially made for men, slightly altered and then sold to women, and it doesn’t really work. Abel wanted to make a technical outdoor clothing brand exclusively for women; clothes made for women first, from the ground up, addressed

to fit for function, with valuable features and fabric that stretches and moves in accordance with women’s bodies.

Today, Abel is the CEO and co-founder of Wild Rye, a women’s outdoor clothing apparel company based in Sun Valley that caters to women at all levels of recreation and life. Moreover, Wild Rye is at the head of the pack in setting standards for community outreach, environmental sustainability and social responsibility. It took a specific vision from Abel to achieve such a multifaceted company, and it took years to come to fruition.

The early days of starting Wild Rye were all “hustle and grit,” as Abel puts it. During the first five years of promoting and creating her bold new company, she consulted for other outdoor brands, became a mom to her son Sawyer, and navigated a global pandemic.

“We were so panicked,” Abel states regarding the Covid 19 pandemic, “but we doubled our growth in 2020.”

Wild Rye production has continued to double every year since, and in 2021 the company hired its first full-time employee. In the spring of the same year, Abel could pay herself for the first time. Currently, the company has eight, soon-to-be nine, full-time employees.

“I wanted to create job opportunities and keep smart, talented people living and working here,” says Cassie.

Being a transparent and communityinvolved company has allowed Wild Rye to hire and attract people who are aligned with its values, starting with protecting the environment. As stated on Wild Rye’s website, they make clothes that are “built to last a lifetime, not for the landfills.”

Although nothing that produces products is 100 percent sustainable, Wild Rye makes an effort to offset their impacts. Their dedication to adhering to high industry standards for sourcing sustainable and recycled materials, using rigorous sustainable production practices, shipping in recyclable packaging, and ensuring fair, safe manufacturing, along with other quantified methods detailed on their website, has qualified Wild Rye as a certified Climate Neutral and B-Corporation company.

B-Corporation certifications are earned by “for-profit, mission-driven businesses that meet the highest environmental and social performance standards, legal accountability, and public transparency.”

Adhering to these standards makes production more difficult. Materials are

harder to source, but making these concerted efforts are important to Abel and her team, as is supporting women’s rights to reproductive health care in Idaho.

In 2021 Texas lawmakers passed a bill that effectively banned abortion after six weeks of pregnancy, and Idaho became the second state to adopt the ban. Abel felt a responsibility to support the organizations left in Idaho that were still dedicated to helping women access reproductive health care. So, Wild Rye launched their limited edition BBBB crop tops, with 100 percent of the net profits going to state-level abortion access funds. The shirt stated in bold letters Bikes & Baddies & Brews & (x’ed out) Bans.

“I was panicked about the response,” admits Cassie. “But by and large, it was positive. We are passionate about supporting our community and showing our values on our sleeves. It’s served our company well.”

By intelligently using her company as a platform, Abel and her team are on the right track to achieving their goal of Wild Rye becoming the women’s outdoor brand of choice and a source of supporting women’s stories and strides.

Nicole Jorgenson is a Sun Valley resident

athlete and one of 18 women who make up Wild Rye’s pro team, a group that supports their local communities and promotes and enjoys a reciprocal relationship of mutual respect with the clothing company.

Jorgenson has lived many lives as a competitive mountain biker, Sun Valley ski patroller and an EMT (emergency medical technician) and was an early adopter of Wild Rye apparel.

“Wild Rye entered the market at a time when

there was nearly no mountain bike clothing specifically for women,” says Jorgenson. “They have gone above and beyond at succeeding in their endeavor. They’re a creative, inclusive brand focused on community, and they make people feel like they can do whatever they want.”

Wild Rye’s namesake is a hardy grass that grows at elevation. It’s durable and enduring, just like the clothes and just like this company is sure to be. ï

Material Things

Hempitecture’s green solutions take root in Idaho

BY BEN BRADLEY

Once a week, nearly all of us roll our garbage cans out to the curb for pickup. A simple, mundane ritual that marks the passing of time, and if the refuse could speak, it would be able to tell the world just what we had been up to for the last seven days.

Then the garbage truck arrives and allows us to wash our hands of all our waste quickly and conveniently.

But where does it all go?

Most garbage goes to a landfill, where the lion’s share will nearly never biodegrade. While our personal contributions to the heap might be small, our cumulative impact is tremendous and, sadly, if not surprisingly, highly deleterious to the environment.

For Wood River Valley local Mattie Mead, ever-growing landfills became a problem that captivated and motivated him, guiding the course for his latest entrepreneurial endeavor: Hempitecture, which creates eco-friendly building materials from the natural fibers of the hemp plant.

Mead’s formal studies at Hobart and William Smith colleges focused on environmental science, architecture and entrepreneurship. All three of these disciplines converged in Hempitecture. His passion for building and the environment led him to

discover that the waste from the building industry makes up roughly one-quarter of all the waste in landfills today.

Beyond the staggering amount of waste generation, the building industry also emits 40% of the world’s greenhouse gases, more than even the fossil fuel-guzzling transportation sector. Mead’s search for solutions to the glut of refuse created in the building process led him to industrial hemp, a plant widely believed to be the strongest natural fiber on Earth.

Once a mainstay American crop in the 18th and 19th centuries, hemp was effectively banned in the U.S. by the Controlled Substances Act of 1970. By conflating industrial hemp cultivation with marijuana production, the government negatively stigmatized the hemp plant while simultaneously halting ongoing innovations in its use. Though technically sharing familial ties with the plants that produce marijuana, the species of hemp used industrially contains mere trace amounts of the psychoactive compound THC and boasts a wide range of uses, including food, beauty products, textiles and even fuel.

The recent passage of the Farm Bill in 2018 lifted the ban on industrial hemp cultivation. It paved the way for entrepreneurs like Mead

to continue innovating its processing and application, lending hemp’s strength and sustainability to various industries.

Hempitecture began to take shape in 2013, just outside New York City, where Mead started to develop the first hemp-based building product he called Hempcrete. As the name suggests, Hempcrete offers builders, engineers and architects an alternative to standard concrete, highlighting the mindboggling strength of hemp fibers.

With initial tests proving successful, the time came to find Hempcrete’s first real-world building project. The opportunity to build an entire building out of Hempcrete arrived in 2015 when Matt Gershater, Hailey resident and owner of Mountain Adventure Tours, called Mead looking for someone to create a truly sustainable building at his BaseCamp property near Copper Basin.

Beyond providing the perfect chance to put Hempcrete to the test, the project also introduced Mead to the magic of Idaho’s wilderness, forever altering the future of both he and his enterprise. After completing what became the Borah Basin Building, Mead and Hempitecture moved their operations to the Wood River Valley, intent on continuing to grow hemp product awareness and revolutionize the building industry.

Hempcrete initially solidified the company’s success out of the gates. Mead and the Hempitecture team trained more than 60 builders in its use. In 2018, Mead partnered with Tommy Gibbons as a cofounder and Hempitecture’s first chief innovation officer. Gibbons was instrumental in developing the company’s next great product: HempWool, a green alternative to familiar pink fiberglass insulation.

Long-serving as the building industry’s preferred choice of insulation material, the cotton candy-like substance offers excellent insulative properties. Still, it is also highly harmful to the skin and respiratory system and will live indefinitely in landfills. HempWool provides builders and homeowners with the same insulation without any drawbacks. Created from woven hemp fibers, HempWool is completely safe to touch and handle.

In the future, when it is replaced, HempWool’s natural plant fibers readily biodegrade as one would expect. This combination of performance and sustainability has quickly made HempWool Mead and Gibbons’ flagship product.

Though many companies frivolously ascribe words like ‘natural,’ ‘eco-friendly’ and ‘sustainable’ to their products, hoping to ‘greenwash’ them and appeal to consumers’ collective desire to do less harm to the world, Hempitecture’s commitment to the environment runs deep. It is the guiding light in everything they do.

So, when the time came to scale up production, Mead and Gibbons considered every environmental impact of their decisions. Bringing the manufacturing process closer to home offered a way to immediately reduce Hempitecture’s carbon footprint while providing jobs and an economic boost to southern Idaho.

In February of 2023, Hempitecture opened its first local manufacturing facility just over an hour south of Sun Valley, in Jerome, and is now sourcing all its raw materials from within

600 miles, a massive improvement over its initial process of importing materials from overseas. The new facility also runs entirely on renewable energy, thanks to subsidies provided through Idaho Power’s Green Power Program.

Along with the new production facility, Hempitecture has grown its team to 10 fulltime roles, including the addition of Jonnie Pedersen as communications director, who highlights the support Hempitecture has received from Idaho institutions as critical to its success.

“As an ag-tech business in a very agriculturally driven economy, Hempitecture has benefited from support across the state, including the Idaho Department of Commerce, agricultural trade organizations, and rural communities as well,” Pedersen notes. “We’re also currently working with the University of Idaho to develop a fire-retardant line of products, which really goes to show the level of cooperation and collaboration that we’ve enjoyed as an Idaho-based operation.”

Changing an industry that has been doing things the same way for an extremely long time has come with its challenges. However, the team at Hempitecture never misses the opportunity to evangelize the benefits of hemp-based materials.

“There’s definitely been some reluctance in the building industry to adopt new products,” Pedersen says. “However, once a builder tries our products, they can quickly appreciate the unique advantages hemp can deliver.”

As the world continues to contend with climate change, Hempitecture’s success and future potential offer a bright spot and a reason for optimism. Driven by innovation in their mission, Mead, Gibbons, Pedersen and the rest of the Hempitecture team haven’t lost sight of their goal to positively impact the environment through everything they do. Their work serves as an inspiration and a reminder that extraordinary change can be driven by small groups of extraordinarily committed individuals. ï

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-JONNIE PEDERSEN, COMMUNICATIONS DIRECTOR

New Game in Town

Ketchum local Alex McCoy is redefining lean meats by introducing ostrich to the public

BY PAMELA KLEIBRINK THOMPSON

Halfway around the world from the Wood River Valley, Alex McCoy discovered ostriches, and they changed his life.

Now he is on a quest to introduce the birds to others and transform their lives and the world. Alex grew up in Ketchum and currently lives in Sun Valley with his wife, Lauren, and three girls, aged 5, 6 and 8.

“In 2011, living in South Africa and training for an Ironman triathlon, I first tasted ostrich,” recalls McCoy. “Although I was on a strict training diet, I was craving red meat and ate a huge ostrich steak on a ‘cheat day’.”

McCoy knew beef might make him lethargic, but after his meal of ostrich meat, he felt energized and completed a 16-mile run that was among his fastest during months of training. “Because I realized ostrich was an option that could satisfy red meat cravings and allow us to eat healthfully, I was determined to bring it into the mainstream back home in the U.S.”

McCoy planned to use his experience as a venture capitalist and international financier to help other ostrich farmers but found few in America. Instead, in 2013, he founded American Ostrich Farms. The largest ostrich producer in North America, American Ostrich Farms stretches over 120 acres in Kuna, Idaho, and is home to more than 2,000 birds.

“I started this company to give Americans a better alternative to red meats. If consumers like beef, they’re going to love ostrich. Ostrich tastes like a delicious, lean filet mignon but is higher in iron and lower in cholesterol, saturated fat and calories. I’m surprised it’s not a protein staple, and we’re working hard to make it more available beyond directly through our website, so customers have convenient access to ostrich wherever they shop for groceries,” declares McCoy.

According to Iowa State University’s Agricultural Marketing and Resource Center’s website, “With a texture and color similar to beef, it is low in fat, calories and sodium. It has less cholesterol than beef, chicken or turkey.”

American Ostrich Farms employs state-of-the-art technology to enable the birds to be more environmentally sustainable and minimize their resource use, which includes intensive application of cloud-based monitoring and analysis via hundreds of sensors located throughout their incubation, hatch and young livestock rearing facilities, as well as their on-farm slaughter and processing plant.

Their new slaughter plant, funded partly by the Sun Valley Institute for Resilience’s Idaho Impact Fund, has enabled AOF to control the product quality, sustainability, and humane handling of their now vertically integrated operation to the degree that is exceedingly rare in animal protein production.

“We have spent years working on our flock genetics to continually improve the chick, and thus product, yield per breeder.”

McCoy is proud of the efforts and early results of the farm’s genetics research, which is discovering which bloodlines yield the most efficient and reliably healthy offspring from chick to juvenile to harvest.

Each ostrich egg weighs about three and a half pounds, equivalent to 24 chicken eggs. The eggs are collected and cleaned

daily and incubated for 42 days. Each chick is over a foot tall when it hatches and ostriches grow rapidly. After 12 months, each chick has grown to more than 200 pounds and is usually over 7 feet tall.

“Our best birds are selected for future breeding stock and the remaining birds are processed,” states McCoy. “All of our meat is USDA inspected, vacuum sealed and frozen for maximum freshness.

“Our philosophy is if you’re going to raise livestock, care for it, and then take its life, you’d better be using that entire animal and not wasting anything. Virtually every part of the ostrich can be used to create products that consumers love.”

Meat is the farm’s main product, but they also have a line of pet treats, sell eggshells and try to monetize every part of the animal.

“Nothing goes to waste. Beyond delicious burgers and steaks, our hides become gorgeous leather products. Feathers are used for decoration, costumes, and many other commercial applications.”

AOF turns fat into a line of cosmetics, soaps, and all-natural moisturizing oils and lotions under the brand “AOF Skincare”.

OSTRICH FACTS

† The world’s largest bird, ostriches, roam African savanna and desert lands and get most of their water from the plants they eat.

† Ostriches can’t fly, but they are the fastestrunning birds in the world. They can cover more than 10 feet in a single stride, run continuously at 30-37 mph speeds, and sprint up to 43 mph.

† Ostriches have only two toes on each foot, which allows for greater speed.

† When frightened or scared, ostriches do not bury their heads in the sand. When an ostrich senses danger and cannot run away, it flops to the ground, remains still, and tries blending in with the terrain.

† The African ostrich has two stomachs. In the wild, ostriches live about 30 to 40 years, but in captivity, they can live up to 70.

† A male North African Red-Necked Ostrich can grow to 9 feet and 340 pounds.

† February through Labor Day is breeding season.

† The ostrich’s long, thick eyelashes help prevent damage to the animal’s vision from sand and dust storms, common where ostriches live.

Alex’s wife Lauren notes, “Every product we produce holds up our core values, including the highest standards of environmental and animal welfare and no hormones or antibiotics ever. Our All-American supply chain supports American farmers and local communities.”

McCoy’s goal is for the ostrich to one day be in every grocery store and most restaurants.

“It’s the healthiest red meat there is—both for our bodies and for the planet. Compared to conventionally raised beef, ostriches use onethird of the freshwater, a fraction of the land, and emit less than one-tenth of the greenhouse gases per pound of meat produced,” McCoy reports. “This product connects really well with people who care not just about their own health but about the planet that we’re going to leave to our kids and grandkids. It’s our mission to bring Americans the most healthy, sustainable, environmentally friendly red meat in the animal kingdom. Ostrich is the natural answer in a world with a rapidly growing population where people want to eat red meat, yet water scarcity and shifting consumer tastes toward healthier, more sustainable food products make traditional red meats less attractive. Better living through ostrich is what we say.” ï

Tuscany in the Garden

Tenth

on Tenth

FUNDRAISER BENEFITING

Boulder Mountain Clayworks

Boulder Mountain Clayworks

Wednesday July 19th

Wednesday, July 21, 2021

Wednesday, July 21, 2021

6:00 to 9:00pm

6:00 to 9:00pm

Join us at the Sawtooth Botanical Garden 11 Gimlet Road, Ketchum, ID 83340

Join us at the Sawtooth Botanical Garden 11 Gimlet Road, Ketchum, ID 83340

Tickets are $75 and can be purchased at bouldermtnclay.org or by calling 208. 726.4484.

Tickets are $75 and include:

Tickets are $75 and can be purchased at bouldermtnclay.org or by calling 208. 726.4484.

Please RSVP by July 20th.

Please RSVP by July 20th.

Complimentary wine cups, beverages & great food from Ketchum Grill Pizza Truck

Included, complimentary wine cups, beverages & great food from Ketchum Grill Pizza Truck. There will be Raffle

Raffle Prizes

Silent Auction: Studio Potters’ incredible creations

Prizes, a Silent Auction: Studio Potters’ incredible creations, and a Live Auction: Studio Potters’ Alice in Wonderland Totem, and Tea Set

Live Auction: Studio PottersGroup Totem Lamp, Dinnerware by Lauren Street and more!

Included, complimentary wine cups, beverages & great food from Ketchum Grill Pizza Truck. There will be Raffle Prizes, a Silent Auction: Studio Potters’ incredible creations, and a Live Auction: Studio Potters’ Alice in Wonderland Totem, and Tea Set

Intravenous Therapy Infuses Blaine County

Wellness and beauty care get a shot in the arm

BY KATE HULL

Move over supplements and vitamin pills; wellness and beauty care are getting straight to the point these days.

The latest in inner wellness and beauty treatment is working from the inside out by way of I.V. or intravenous infusion therapy—and Blaine County has a host of businesses where you can replenish your body, fight ailments, target specific needs, or help with that Sunday morning hangover.

“I.V. therapy has long been used in the hospital setting to rehydrate patients and treat various conditions,” says Ryland Mauck-Duff, BSN, RN and CEO of EXTEN IV, formerly known as Elevated Hydration, located in Ketchum and Boise. “In the elective setting, like our drip lounges, it has been around for

a number of years but has certainly grown in popularity over the past couple of years and is new to many areas.”

Ryland has seen much growth and awareness in the I.V. therapy realm, which he credits to conversations around its benefits hitting the mainstream and celebrities raving about their I.V. drip experiences. For example, Gwyneth Paltrow, actress and the woman behind the modern lifestyle brand Goop, has celebrated her experiences with anti-aging, regenerative I.V.s, and the like and recently shared its benefits alongside her ongoing struggles with long Covid.

This New-Age wellness trend isn’t that new. Blaine County offers I.V. therapy from businesses like EXTEN and Sun Valley

Hydrating with IV infusion therapy offsets the effects of “long COVID.”

Ketamine Clinic and others.

As opposed to a vitamin or supplement that must be digested before it gets absorbed into your body, allowing the benefits to take hold, I.V. goes straight to the source: your bloodstream.

Performed by a medical professional, I.V. therapy is like an expedited wellness boost and can be hyper-targeted to individual needs. So much so, the popular treatment is used to combat a little imbibing over-indulgence and become popular post-parties. Think of a bachelor party brunch and hydration I.V. session to close the weekend. And while those benefits are an added plus, drip therapy is also celebrated for helping wane symptoms for certain illnesses while helping with inflammation.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported in June 2022 that nearly one in thirteen adults is currently experiencing “long COVID,” defined as symptoms lasting three months or more after contracting the illness. Vitamin-based intravenous therapy is one way some are working to alleviate these symptoms.

“There are many benefits

to I.V. therapy including rehydration, boosting energy, aiding individuals’ natural immune system, muscle recovery and performance, alleviating hangover symptoms, altitude illness treatment/recovery, and just helping individuals’ general health and well-being,” says Ryland. “We have drips formulated to meet most individuals’ health and wellness goals.”

At EXTEN IV, patrons receive treatments in the lush and cozy drop lounges, as Ryland and team call them, and can pick from a host of services and I.V. types like the energyboosting Myers Cocktail with fluid, vitamin C, magnesium, B-5, B-12 and B-Complex, or a skin-focused cocktail designed to detoxify your body and optimize cellular and skin health. Drip prices start at around $125 to $275 per session.

“It’s a great asset to most individuals’ health and well-being,” Ryland says. “There are still individuals who are unfamiliar with the idea of receiving an I.V. outside the hospital setting or have a fear of needles. We help alleviate both those (fears) through education, using hospital-grade supplies and only staffing

registered nurses in our lounges. For those looking to try I.V. therapy, we encourage individuals to look for clinics that have all those and do their own research.”

Shanna Angel, the owner of Sun Valley Ketamine Clinic and a CRNA for more than 30 years, offers some vitamin-based I.V. therapy, but their specialty may be a little less mainstream: Low-dose ketamine therapy. A dissociative anesthetic, when used in low doses, ketamine can be used for the treatment of depression, anxiety, pain management and other ailments. Her clinic is the first I.V. ketamine infusion therapy clinic in the Wood River Valley and helps ease mental health challenges with its unique I.V. treatments.

“Ketamine I.V. therapy has become incredibly popular in the United States and England because we see some incredible success, especially in people who have resistance to antibiotics,” Angel says. “It really can change their relationship with anxiety and depression.”

To utilize Sun Valley Ketamine Clinic’s services, clients must have a diagnosis of anxiety, depression or a struggle where this treatment would be of benefit, Angel explains. She says this is because of her licensing and a bit of the new popularity of ketamine therapy. The uses, however, could benefit just about everyone, she says. “Everyone has trauma that could benefit [from this therapy],” Angel says. I use it for prolonged grief, end-of-life care, and more. I have also used it for seizures, addictions, and alcoholism. It helps with understanding their worth, which they didn’t see before.”

The first studies on ketamine therapy came out in 1999 at Yale University. In 2010, Angel says, clinics started to pop up. She opened her Sun Valley clinic in 2019.

“In my practice, ketamine is a dissociated drug,” she says. “At a certain dosage, you are dissociated from your body and that image of yourself. You can call it the spiritual or the mythical response. Ketamine provides that. It provides people with a space where they are not depressed, not anxious. It does also help with pain. It allows them to see the possibilities of living.”

Whether by way of vitamin infusion, help with depression or in hopes of keeping your skin young and vibrant, the I.V. therapy movement has infused Sun Valley with a host of new wellness opportunities to explore. For more information, visit: sunvalleyketamineclinic.com

loss.

Local Blaine County I.V. clinics—Exten IV (above) and The Lab Sun Valley (right)—offer more than just hydration relief. I.V. infusion therapies are also used to treat depression and anxiety, regulate hormones and assist in weight

SUN VALLEY MAGAZINE JULY 1974

A Chat with Paul Newman in Sun Valley

BY JIM BELSON, (FORMER) DIRECTOR OF THE SUN VALLEY CENTER

Last winter [winter, 1973] there were so many movie stars in Sun Valley, you felt you were skiing through a warm-up tor the Academy Awards. Gene Hackman was taking skiing lessons at Elkhorn, Cloris Leachman could be seen silhouetted against the white powder snow on Dollar Mountain, Marlon Brando was lurking in Baldy’s all-too-brief lift lines, etc.

My own meeting with Paul Newman was an exciting one. And it was a good deal of fun. The interview was both relaxed (we consumed a respectable amount of beer for a two-hour conversation) and intense. Newman has his own, well-informed conceptions of what is happening in the American film industry. And he never hesitates to state them.

Newman began acting at age 12, as a member of the children’s segment of the Cleveland Players. Following World War II (he served in the Pacific for three years), he worked in summer stock, then enrolled in the Yale School of Drama. After some

outstanding successes on the New York stage, he signed a contract with Warner Brothers and has gone on to star in more than 26 motion pictures. Some of his greatest film performances have been registered in “The Philadelphian,” “The Long Hot Summer,” “Hud,” “The Left-handed Gun,” “Sweet Bird of Youth,” “Exodus,” “Cat on a Hot Tin Roof,” “The Outrage,” “Pocket Money,” “The Hustler,” “Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid,” “The Life and Times of Judge Roy Bean,” and, most recently, in “The Sting.”

In the past few years, he has become increasingly involved in directing and producing. As director, he has created such works as “Rachel, Rachel,” “Sometimes A Great Notion” and “The Effect Of Gamma Rays On Man-in-The-Moon Marigolds.”

I met Paul Newman in the Sun Valley Lodge after we had both finished a long day of skiing. Sitting down with some much needed drink, Newman was enthusiastic about the skiing in Sun Valley.

‘‘I’m

not pleased with the [expletive deleted] Hollywood has been turning out recently.

—PAUL NEWMAN, WINTER 1973

Paul Newman in the Sun Valley Lodge, 1973

NEWMAN:

I’ve skied every day I’ve been here [Newman had been in Sun Valley for two weeks]. And I’ve skied eight times since 1946 ... I never have enough time.

BELSON:

You feel you are under a great deal of pressure?

NEWMAN:

It’s very difficult to find good material. I’m not pleased with the [expletive deleted] Hollywood has been turning out recently. There have been maybe five major films released so far this year, and there’s not a serious film among them.

BELSON:

What is a “serious” film, do you think?

NEWMAN:

A serious film is a film that deals with human beings—their lives, relationships. I’m only interested in serious films, films that do not depend upon violence or pornography. That’s why I turned down “Dirty Harry.”

BELSON:

I have the impression that you used to be more involved in what might be called the “social consciousness film.”

NEWMAN:

People seem to be tired of films that deal directly with social problems. They’re worn out. There were civil rights films before, but no one seems to care about them anymore. There’s Women’s Lib ... now that could be a great source of new social consciousness films.

Joanne [Joanne Woodward, Newman’s wife] gets offered all those parts, of course.

BELSON:

Perhaps films which explore the effects of women’s liberation on men could provide a rich source for actors, like yourself.

NEWMAN: That’s right. That should be a good source.

fromthearchives // paul newman

BELSON:

In a recent talk with Gene Hackman, he mentioned that he was anxious to get an opportunity to do some directing. You seem to be getting much more involved in that aspect of filmmaking yourself lately. Does it come as a natural extension of your acting?

NEWMAN:

The move from acting to directing is not that big a jump. The films that I’ve directed have been very simple films. “Sometimes A Great Notion” was a complicated physical production, but I inherited that. The films that I really chose to do were very, very simple films. I mean simple “photographically.” I told my cameraman on “Rachel, Rachel”, when we first got together, “All that camera should do is eavesdrop. That’s all. No fancy, hot-shot motions.” You never want the camera to be noticed.

I prefer directing to acting. Perhaps I’ve done too much acting. I’m tired of it. I find it less interesting than directing. I feel that I’ve merely begun to repeat myself in my acting. Then, too, there’s the “business.” Steve Mc Queen, Barbra Streisand, Sidney Poitier, Dustin Hoffman and myself have formed a production company—First Artists. So I have become very involved in the production end of the business ,as well.

BELSON:

Do you have to make the same kind of decisions when considering a film as a producer as you would as an actor or director?

NEWMAN:

Well, I can tell from reading a script whether or not the film will be financially successful. I’ve only been wrong three or four times.

BELSON:

“The Sting” is certainly enjoying a good deal of success—both financial and critical. What future projects are you working on?

NEWMAN:

Actually, I haven’t worked in eight months. I’ve read some 200 scripts and I haven’t come across a good one yet.

I am planning a project for the fall with Dustin [Dustin Hoffman, a partner in First Artists]. I hesitate to talk about it because

Paul Newman in “Cool Hand Luke,” 1967

I prefer directing to acting. Perhaps I’ve done too much acting. I’m tired of it. I feel that I’ve merely begun to repeat myself in my acting. —PAUL NEWMAN, 1974

we don’t even have a first draft of the screen play yet. It’s a Western, set in Mexico in 1916, called “The Tin Lizzie Troup.” The book is by Glendon Swartout. It’s about an actual chase that took place in 1914 when a bunch of hotshot kids chased some Mexican troupers across the border and tried to capture them. It’s really complicated. It’s got some interesting people in it. It’s not terribly heavyweight, but it’s a very poignant piece. Very touching.

Now THAT FILM will have violence in it. Justifiable violence, that is. And some of it is very funny.

It’s going to be a big physical production. The camera’s going to be a lot more important. If a film has a theme and it has, you know, some “intellectual” significance, that’s o.k. But first and foremost, it has to have some kind of an emotion connected to it. In other words, the actors are trying to suck it out of the audience.

BELSON:

So, there is, you feel, some hope for the future ... there is some good material around.

NEWMAN:

Yes, but very little. I’ve got two novels waiting for me upstairs in my room right now. But neither of them is any good. So much of the writing today is just atrocious. It really is a bitch. ï

Editor’s Note:

Newman’s next film role was as Doug Roberts in The Towering Inferno (1974), followed by the role of Reggie Dunlop in “Slap Shot” (1977), which has since reached cult film status. Additionally, since the time of the above interview during the winter of 1973/1974, Newman was nominated for seven Academy Awards, winning three; and was nominated for six additional Golden Globes, winning three; as well as a Tony Award nomination, two Grammy Award nominations, and three Emmy Award nominations. So, we would wager that his hard work searching for scripts with good writing paid off.

Our cover, July 1974

Natural woman. Navajo spiny turquoise & sterling silver pearl turquoise necklace by Heather Kahn

ELLE ROSE

641 Sun Valley Road, Ketchum — 208.726.8871

Devoted to you. Dolce&Gabbana small Devotion bags in nappa leather

Brilliant. 18kt yellow gold “Y” necklace featuring moonstone, diamond & sapphire

Opulent. 18kt yellow gold earrings + asymetrical ring featuring Australian boulder opal and diamonds

Perfect for summer nights. Valentino Garavani VLOGO Signature Jacquard shawls

For the star that you are. 18kt yellow gold, pink sapphire and diamond star necklace, and multi-color “star” sapphire + diamond stud earrings

“Party-time” 18kt yg stud earrings featuring opal, purple sapphire, pink tourmaline and diamonds

Dazzling. Multi-color sapphire and diamond band in 18kt gold

South Pacific charm. Wrap bracelets in pink opal and labradorite with Tahitian pearls

NAIFEH FINE JEWELRY

4 Kitzbuhler Strasse, Sun Valley — 208.622.3522

100 N. Leadville Avenue, Ketchum — 208.726.5160

Hand embroidered jacket + colorful embroidered handspun flower scarf

Sweet. Dolce&Gabbana bustier midi dress in Majolica-print poplin

So chic. Valentino Garavani small Loco Toile Iconographe shoulder bag (available in other colors, too)

Handbeaded purse + cabachon earrings and antique necklace

favorite finds...

and unforgettable gifts!

Colorful + versatile. Pierre – Louis silk Italian multi colored scarf

Must-have heirloom piece. Freenote Cloth’s riders jacket in waxed canvas oak helps keep out the weather—satin lined sleeves make for easy layering

A cool way to stay warm. Nigel Preston sued embellished jacket

Premium quality Canadian terry cotton. Reigning Champ’s midweight terry crewneck in signature British racing green

The ultimate Summer accessory. Brunello Cucinelli straw handbag with Italian leather monili strap

PANACHE

3 Mall Lane, Sun Valley Mall — 208.622.4228

Curated designs for women and

men.

slipons.

Italian

Dressy or sophisticated, relaxed vibe. 3Sixteen’s open collar shirt in graphite crosshatch is the perfect shirt for milder climates.

EARL’S AUTHENTICS

621 Sun Valley Road, Ketchum — 208.913.0043

Your new favorite jeans. The Freenote Cloth Portola classic taper is a custom selvedge denim from Kaihara Mills, Japan, and sewn in the USA

Leather that lasts. Tanner Goods standard belt in saddle tan is grafted in the USA from 11 oz. English bridle leather

Sophisticated

Brunello Cucinelli

leather slide with monili trim

The ultimate tool for wilderness travel, or just a great day on a river. Alpacka Gnarwhal packraft—an 8 lb., class-4-whitewater-capable boat!

Do-it-all river paddle. Aquabound Whiskey 4-piece paddle—incredibly light and strong, with a four-piece design to break down and fit in any pack

Perfect beach party swimsuits. Carve Bexley bikini top and St Barth reversible bottom + the Carve Jessa one-piece

Hustle PFD, —amazing comfort with enough foam to keep you floating with your head far above the

water cold in style. Podium insulated water bottle with

high-flow spout

Look good and feel good flip-flops. Hari Mari was developed by adventurers who wanted durable and unique shoes, free of painful break-in periods.

100% Organic!

Dylan Gauze Shirt from Carve, come on in and grab two (soon to be a staple in your closet)

Serious outdoor fun.

Play and stay in the sun. Carve Kona zip-neck rash guard to mix and match with Carve’s swimwear & protect you from those rays

In the hood. The everyday lightweight Indyeva Olga II LS hoodie for on and o the trail!

Everyone will ask where you got them. The North Face class V short provides durability and is quick drying Function meets fashion. Indyeva Arin overalls are made of a light woven fabric—great for travel or taking a walk with your dog out Adams Gulch

The coolest. The Orca Cooler—integrated insulation keeps ice for days and extendable handles make carrying a breeze An

Feel the breeze. Free Fly PO breeze jogger is both lightweight and comfortable

The ultimate water shoe. Astral Brewer 2.0/ Brewess 2.0 water shoes—wear it paddling, hiking, fishing, sitting on the beach at Redfish Lake ... or just around town

Idaho’s Whitewater

Thrill Ride

Five rafting trips to take this summer

BY HAYDEN SEDER

White water rafting trips are among the most coveted experiences for those visiting or living in the Sun Valley area. Whether departing out of Stanley or Riggins, going for a half-day or multiple days, doing it in luxury or bare bones, there’s a trip for everyone.

While there are many raft trip outfitters in the area—too many to fit here—we’ve picked five of our favorites who offer a variety of trips to meet your needs this summer.

PHOTO CREDITS

TOP PHOTO: COURTESY WILDERNESS RIVER OUTFITTERS/NYIMA MING, LEFT: COURTESY WHITE OTTER

FOR FISHING

The Outfitter:  White Cloud Rafting Adventures

The River: Salmon

Trip Name: Guided Fly-Fishing Trip

Cost: $495 per person

Distance from Sun Valley: 1 hour to Stanley

Why You’ll Love It: Even the hardiest fisherman or fisherwoman could use a guide to find the best fishing spots. With White Cloud, you’ll get all-day guidance to little-known fishing spots on the upper Salmon River to catch rainbow, bull and cutthroat trout. White Cloud even guarantees you’ll catch fish—or your money back. Enjoy provided snacks, beverages and a feast-style lunch.

The Details: This trip is for all ages and all

experience levels. Meet time is typically 8:30 a.m., though that can change based on morning temps. A full-day fishing trip generally is 6–7 hours on the water. Enjoy fishing from White Cloud’s specially equipped rafts with casting platforms on the front and back.

FOR GLAMPING & LUX

The Outfitter:  Far & Away Adventures

The River:  Salmon

Trip Name:  Middle Fork of the Salmon River

Cost: $3,799/person

Distance from Sun Valley:  Trips begin and end in Sun Valley

Why You’ll Love It: You’ll forget you’re even on the river with Far & Away’s luxury “American safaris,” where guides set up and break down five-star camps that include oversized tents and cots (complete with flannel bedding, carpets, nightstands and lanterns), hot showers and gourmet meals. Then, as you flow the 100 miles of the Middle Fork, you’ll experience dozens of thrilling rapids, deep turquoise pools full of native cutthroat trout, and towering granite cliffs of Impassible Canyon.

The Details: Far & Away encourages customers to call to craft their experience unique to their needs and interests. Middle Fork trips are six days and five nights. Per Forest Service regulations, each launch is limited to 22 guests and eight guides. Middle Fork season runs May 1–October 1. Trips begin and end in Sun Valley, including transport to and from the river.

FOR DAY TRIPS TO THE NORTH

The Outfitter:  White Otter Outdoor Adventures

The River:  Salmon

Trip Name:  Half-Day Rafting Trip

Cost: $85/adult, $75/child (ages 4–12)

Distance from Sun Valley:  1.5 hours to Sunbeam (just past Stanley)

Why You’ll Love It: White Otter’s most popular experience, the half-day rafting trip, is perfect for those in Sun Valley wanting to get out for a day trip. This mellow excursion is ideal for families with children. You’ll get a fresh-baked snack while on the river— Sunbeam Café’s famous Starr Bars, which are so good, you’ll thank your lucky stars they sell them at the café, where you can also enjoy an organic, locally sourced meal post-trip.

The Details: The only company at the putin, White Otter, is in Sunbeam Village, steps away from the water. The trip lasts about three hours from start to finish, depending on river conditions. Trips launch daily at 9:30 a.m. and 2 p.m. June through August and can be done on a paddle raft, oar boat or inflatable kayak (boat choice made on reservation).

FOR MULTI-DAY & OVERNIGHT

The Outfitter: Wilderness River Outfitters

The River: Salmon River

Trip Name: Middle Fork of the Salmon

Cost: $2,150–$2,950 (depending on when in the season the trip is)

Distance from Sun Valley:  1 hour (to Stanley for June and July trips), 3.5 hours to Salmon (for August trips)

Why You’ll Love It: Soaking in natural hot springs, hiking to gorgeous vistas and waterfalls, learning about pioneers and rich Native American history, spotting local wildlife, and cutthroat trout fishing are just a few of the activities you’ll enjoy on this trip. At night, settle around a roaring campfire to enjoy delicious Dutch oven dinners.

The Details: Depending on when you book your trip, you’ll either begin in Stanley and end in Salmon or begin and end in Salmon. You’ll spend six days descending 3,000 feet of elevation through 100 miles of Class III & IV rapids. Each day you’ll have oar boats, paddle boats, or inflatable kayaks available to choose your excitement level on any given day.

FOR ADVANCED RIVER RATS

The Outfitter: Mountain River Outfitters

The River: Snake River

Trip Name: 3- or 5-day Hells Canyon

Rafting

Cost: 3-day: Adults $1,095, Youth (7-14)

$895; 5-day: Adults $1,795, Youth (7-14)

$1,350

Distance From Sun Valley:  5.25 hours to Riggins

Why You’ll Love It: Combine adventure and pampering with Mountain River Outfitters’ Hells Canyon trip, where you’ll experience the thrill of several Class-IV rapids while also getting to hike, fish for smallmouth bass and sturgeon, and enjoy gourmet dining while exploring the deepest canyon in North America.

The Details:  Trips start in Riggins, with MRO transporting to and from the river. All camping gear, including high-quality, roomy tents and thick, comfortable sleeping pads, is provided, as are customizable delicious meals. Guests will also receive a complimentary MRO duffel and trip mug as a souvenir at the end of the adventure. Trips depart May through September.

Changing Your Perspective

How peak bagging is quickly becoming popular within the extreme hiking community

BY JONATHAN MENTZER

Regarding summer activities, we in the Wood River Valley and other mountainous areas have the plenty to keep us active.

The list goes on with mountain biking, fly fishing, river rafting, hunting, camping, rock climbing, horseback riding, beer drinking, people watching and, of course, hiking. However, a not-so-up-and-coming activity is making strides in popularity called “peak bagging.”

Think of peak bagging as a more extreme version of trail hiking, but not nearly as intense as full-on mountaineering, with elements to satisfy those wild urges but keeping a relatively safe day hike possible.

Part hiking, part bushwhacking, and not necessarily a new activity by any means; however, it’s gaining ground with the public because of its ease of access, mental and physical health benefits, ultimate gratification and low participation cost (free).

Hailey resident Derek Percoski burst on the scene in 2021 when he climbed 123 Idaho peaks (nine peaks over 12,000 feet and 114 over 11,000 feet) and documented all his adventures.

“It’s about getting back to what we really enjoy about the outdoors, and that’s being one with nature,” says Percoski. “You’re in search of constant wilderness.”

Percoski was only the 10th peak bagger at that time to ascend all of Idaho’s 11ers—peaks between 11,000 and 12,000 feet.

This is not only a family activity he enjoys with his wife and daughter but has become his passion. He’s documented his hikes on his YouTube page and is enamored with maps. Percoski also owns a small business called bestmapsever.com, where people can order posters of maps of various terrain—from national parks, national forests, national trails and peak bagging.

While Percoski wasn’t doing anything new, he did help bring in a new phase of interest in the activity. The peak bagging community is close, but to no surprise, it has a closely-knit local circle that constantly communicates with each other.

Hailey residents Keely Eliason and Robyn Fox joined the peak bagging community, and the activity has helped transform their lives. Eliason and Fox grew up together in the Wood River Valley—born and raised. And while both women were friends throughout their lives, peak bagging brought them closer and made them wiser.

Fox began peak bagging in 2017 to combat her chronic illness. So one of her big goals was to be able to climb mountains.

“I thought it would be a great accomplishment,” she says. So, twice

she climbed the tallest peak in Blaine County—Hyndman Peak at 12,009 feet—and she was hooked. “Then I told myself I wanted to get all the 12ers.”

Since then, peak bagging has been a big deal in Fox’s life. However, when COVID happened and life shut down, Fox devised a wild idea and sent a Facebook blast.

“I said, ‘any peak baggers, raise your hand,’ and Keely was in!” says Fox. “[Keely] had never done a peak before, and I thought it would be awesome.” So they set off for their first ascent, and after, Eliason swore never to peak bag again. But, after a while, the mountains called her name again, and she went.

Now, both are currently on the front-runner list on peakbagger.com for tagging Idaho County Highpoints with 44 peaks on the list. Within one year of their pursuit, Fox has completed 16 peaks, and Eliason has completed 22.

“We made it competitive,” Eliason jokes.

They also hold the record for the most Idaho high points in a day, with five.

“Every time we get up a hard peak, it’s such a good reminder that our daily lives have challenges, and we all have struggles, and all of the mountains seem so hard,” Eliason says. “But when you reach the top, you can say, ‘I made it.’ And I think the most rewarding part of peak bagging is knowing that I’m physically and mentally capable.

“What people don’t understand about peak bagging is the mental challenge you face when climbing a mountain where you’re scared and

your mind is telling you you can’t do this, but when you ignore that and go forward, it is the most rewarding feeling ever.”

For the avid hiker who wants to dabble in peak bagging, having your first bagged peak have some trail to get you through the way is helpful. Also, go after a nearby mountain that isn’t too far away. For example, Patterson Peak in Hailey would be a great intro.

Starting on a smaller hike will also give you an idea of how long it would take you. It’s also important to keep track of the early hikes to gauge the time. It’s wise to start early in the summer to beat the heat.

The essentials are good hiking shoes, breathable clothes like long-sleeve shirts and shorts, a hat and sunblock. However, having a GPS device like the Garmin inReach satellite is good in case you’re out of cell service.

Always bring food and enough water, but for more extensive hikes, you must consider what you need to survive a night or two.

And never go alone.

Like anything fun, there are some dangers to keep you alert. Along with Mother Nature—thunderstorms, hailstorms, lightning, rockslides—peak baggers can expect to see wildlife, too. Bringing bear spray, an air horn or a firearm would be intelligent. Expect differing kinds of animals based on the region you hike. Watch for bears in the north, rattlesnakes in the south and mountain lions in between.

So, when the trail becomes too tame, break into peak bagging; it might change your perspective. ï

2023 SUMMER EVENTS

Summer is a prized period in the Wood River Valley. It’s what keeps us here. From world-class fly fishing to mountain biking to the summer-time favorite Fourth of July, there truly is nothing quite like summer in the Wood River Valley. However, in addition to the summer outdoor activities, this place we call home also features a wide array of art, music, culture, and great food. There are countless cultural events to attend, everything from exceptional music to stand-up comedy to the Sun Valley Writer’s Conference. Here is an abbreviated calendar of events for the summer and beyond.

ALL SUMMER

Hailey Farmers’ Market

Weekly on Saturday Mornings

The 2023 Hailey Market is every Saturday morning from 9:00 a.m.1:00 p.m. The Hailey market will remain in its excellent location in front of Roberta McKercher Park (Main Street on the south end of town, between 3rd and 4th Avenue). Enjoy some live music and ready-to-eat foods. Customers are encouraged to bring their own bags and market baskets. The market is continuing to accept EBT and offer the Double Bucks program. Please see the Wood River Ranch Beef trailer for more information. wrfarmersmarket.org

Ketchum Farmers’ Market

Weekly on Wednesday Afternoons

The 2023 Ketchum Farmers’ Market will be moving to Forest Service Park at 131 River St. East every Wednesday afternoon from 12 p.m. – 4 p.m. Come join the fun, shop, taste the freshness of local produce, get to know your farmers, buy in-season produce and plant starts, listen to free music with family and friends and enjoy the atmosphere of the Wood River Farmers’ Markets. Support local-made and grown products and help strengthen and build our local economy! Your health will thank you. wrfarmersmarket.org

Galena Bike ‘n Hike Night Series

June 16, July 21, Aug. 18 and Sept. 8

Come join Galena Lodge once per month for the Galena Bike ‘N Hike Series from 5:30 p.m. – 8:30 p.m. each night. Have fun with summer evenings of outdoor recreation (bike or hike), community, food and good cheer on the lawn. This is a family-friendly event—all ages are welcome. Bring your mountain bike and join a group ride. Grab a pair of walking shoes, hike, and meet new friends or catch up with old ones. There will be free hot dogs and beverages. galenalodge.com

JUNE

Sun Valley Brewfest

June 17

Having raised over $1 million for international and local charities/programs, the Sun Valley/Ketchum Rotary Club is bringing back the Sun Valley Brewfest at Festival Meadows in Sun Valley from 12 p.m. – 5 p.m. Proceeds go to Blaine County Search and Rescue, the Community Holiday Baskets Project, the Wood River Rotary Scholarships Fund and The Hunger Coalition. Over 1,500+ beer lovers from all over the Intermountain West are anticipated to attend. This is a family-friendly event with over 25 different breweries and 50 different beers from across the Pacific and Rocky Mountain NW. Games, music, food, and even wine! sunvalleybrewfest.com

FoodFest

June 17

Come join The Hunger Coalition for an afternoon of fun at Bloom Community Food Center, the second annual FoodFest, from 4 p.m. – 6:30 p.m., in Bellevue This year’s theme is tacos. Local chef teams will compete to win “best taco,” as determined by a panel of judges. Enjoy a flight of tacos and vote for your favorite. The team with the most votes wins the Community Favorite Award. Stay for other fun free activities, including music from DJ Luis, a live art installation, Sun Valley Museum of Art activities, face painting, and more. Purchase tickets online or at the event. Please have e-receipts available at the ticket table. Street parking is limited in the Southern Belle Business Park area. thehungercoalition.org

Jazz in the Park

June 18

Experience live jazz performances at “Jazz In The Park” free concerts in Ketchum’s Rotary Park on Warm Springs Road across from YMCA, Sundays 6 p.m. – 8 p.m. Bring your low-back chairs and picnics!

Sun Valley Forum

June 20-23

The Sun Valley Forum is a global climate solutions accelerator that brings together cross-sectoral leaders, innovators, and change-makers to collaborate on the most urgent issues facing people and our planet. With a track record of impact, the Forum surfaces the strategies, technologies, business models and financing that can power the urgent transformation of our energy and food systems, restoration of nature and revitalization of communities across the globe. Mainstage keynotes will inform and inspire, while targeted “Multiplier Effect” workshops will accelerate specific impact initiatives by refining strategies, sparking partnerships and mobilizing resources. sunvalleyforum.com

Yoga at River Run

June

24

Free classes will be available at Yoga at River Run, presented by Brass Ranch. Each class is 60 minutes and begins at 9 a.m. every Tuesday and Saturday. All levels are welcome to these free one-hour classes held outdoors at River Run Plaza most Tuesdays & Saturdays. Space is limited; please arrive at 8:45 a.m. to register. Please bring your mat and water, and we kindly ask you to leave your furry friends at home.

sunvalley.com/events/detail/yoga-at-river-run

Sun Valley Culinary Institute Annual Dance Party

June 24

Patti and Don McGrath, Jill and Lee Pollock, and the Sun Valley Culinary Institute invite you to kick off the summer season at the Annual Dance. Party from 6 p.m. – 9 p.m. with a seasonal cuisine created by the school’s chef, Andy Floyd. sunvalleyculinary.org

Ketch’em Alive

June 27

Join Ketchum on Tuesdays at 7 p.m. in Forest Service Park. Get your boogie on! Enjoy an evening of food, drinks, and live music.

Sun Valley Wine Auction

June 27-30

For over 50 years, the Sun Valley Museum of Art has been the cultural keystone of the community, empowering arts exploration and creativity, engaging cultural conversations, and connecting the community to world-renowned thinkers and creators. This year, the Wine Auction will be a four-day event. The Sun Valley Wine Auction is now the oldest charity wine auction in the nation and provides approximately 50% of the Sun Valley Museum of Art’s annual income. sunvalleywineauction.org

29

JULY

HAILEY ROCKS

June 29

Sawtooth Brewery is excited to announce the 2023 Hailey Live summer music series, June 29 – Aug. 24. Free music Thursday nights from 6:30 – 9 p.m. at Hop Porter Park in Hailey.

Ballet Sun Valley

July 1-2

Ballet Sun Valley presents the debut of the world-renowned Dutch National Ballet (DNB) led by Artistic Director Ted Brandsen at 7 p.m. in the Sun Valley Pavilion. This is Dutch National Ballet’s first tour to the United States in 40 years, and Sun Valley is the first stop! The tour continues with performances on the East Coast and at The Music Center at the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion in Los Angeles. balletsunvalley.org

Hailey Days of the Old West

July 1-4

Celebrate the Fourth of July at Hailey’s 2023 Days of the Old West Independence Day celebration. Enjoy the celebration of a classic American parade on Main Street with local restaurants serving up their specialties. Watch world-class and local cowboys and cowgirls at the Days of the Old West Rodeo, view the Fourth of July Parade, visit the Blue Cow Antique Fair, and end with a big fireworks show; it’s no wonder Hailey has been called one of the best places to celebrate the Fourth of July in the West. valleychamber.org

Sun Valley On Ice

July 22 and July 29

Sun Valley on Ice returns and will feature medal-winning headline skaters and our talented Sun Valley on Ice cast like Mariah Bell, Isabeau Levito and Alexa Knierim & Brandon Frazier. To learn more about each seating experience, see the ticket information below. Sun Valley Resort is excited to bring back the Terrace seated food & beverage experience this year. For more information, please call the Guest Center at 208.622.2135.

Riverfest

July 4

After the Hailey July 4th Parade, continue the Independence Day celebration at Hop Porter Park with live music at Riverfest from 1 p.m. – 6 p.m. Admission is free. Food and drinks are available to purchase from Sawtooth Brewery’s Outpost food truck. visitsunvalley.com/event/riverfest

Galena Grinder

July 15

Ketchum Arts Festival

July 14-16

Ketchum Arts Festival is an annual celebration of Idaho art in the shadow of Sun Valley’s Baldy Mountain. It will occur from 10 a.m. – 6 p.m. on July 14 and 15 and from 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. on July 16. So take a breather from your busy summer schedule and spend some time sampling great food and beer and perusing the creative output of more than 100 Idaho artists. The kiddos will enjoy free activities in a special area while the folks can shop. Even Fido can visit with her friends (from the safety of a leash). Festival Meadow is easily accessed from the Bitterroot stop of the free Mountain Rides Blue Route bus or with a short stroll from Ketchum or Sun Valley on the bike path. More information can be found at ketchumartsfestival.com.

BODYTRAFFIC

July 14-15

The Argyros presents Bodytraffic, an internationally, renowned forward-thinking dance company proudly hailing from Los Angeles. Since its founding in 2007 by artistic director Tina Finkelman Berkett, the company has held steady to its mission to champion contemporary dance, educate audiences, present new voices, question the future, and incite positive change. Its goal is simple: get the world moving. Bodytraffic is an incubator for new voices and continues to move the needle of what dance can and cannot be – elevating it beyond an art form to a way of thinking, being, and doing. Both nights’ performances begin at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are $20-$60. theargyros.org

The Galena Grinder is a classic Idaho mountain bike race! This challenging course in an amazing and historic setting separates this event from others like it. Racers will tackle tough climbs and blazing descents on a mixture of classic and modern single track and a few Forest Service roads. galenagrinder.com

Sun Valley Tour de Force

July 20-22

The sixth annual Sun Valley Tour de Force is a weekend of epic proportions for car lovers of all ages. The weekend’s signature event is the ‘NO SPEED LIMIT’ high-speed runs at Phantom Hill. The 3.2 miles of state highway becomes a no-speed-limit zone located in the heart of the Sawtooth National Recreation Area. So, for one day only, drivers can put their machines to the ultimate test. The fastest speed on record is a Bugatti Chiron achieving 253.01 mph. Drivers come from all over the country and beyond; it’s truly an experience of a lifetime. Eight events take place for three days. sunvalleytourdeforce.com

Sun Valley Writers’ Conference

July 22-24

With five Pulitzer Prize winners, two National Book Award finalists, six “New York Times” bestsellers, and a former U.S. Poet Laureate, the 2023 Sun Valley Writers’ Conference (SVWC) will feature “the strongest literary list we’ve ever had,” according to SVWC Literary Director John Burnham Schwartz. Now celebrating its 29th year, SVWC 2023 will be held Saturday, July 22, through Monday, July 24, at the stunning Sun Valley Resort and Pavilion. For

AUGUST

Sun Valley Music Festival

July 30-Aug. 24

The Sun Valley Music Festival’s 39th Summer Season presents a star-studded lineup of guest artists for over three weeks of free concerts in the beautiful, natural surroundings of Sun Valley, Idaho. Pianists Yefim Bronfman and Orli Shaham, mezzo-soprano Sasha Cooke, and violinist Augustin Hadelich will headline concerts featuring works by Schumann, Ravel, Mahler, and Tchaikovsky. Other programs include works by contemporary American composers, including Mason Bates, Michael Abels, and Michael Tilson Thomas. For a very special Pops Night, Stéphane Denève, music director of the St. Louis Symphony, will lead the Festival Orchestra in an evening of the music of John Williams. Major orchestral repertoire will include Mahler’s Symphony No. 5 (the season finale) and Stravinsky’s Rite of Spring svmusicfestival.org

three days, some of the country’s—and the world’s— best writers and thinkers, including fiction and nonfiction writers, journalists, policymakers, and poets, will descend upon Sun Valley. svwc.com

Isabella Boylston and Friends

Aug. 10-11

The Argyros welcomes back hometown favorite Isabella Boylston in an all-new production featuring ABT principal dancers Calvin Royal and James Whiteside, along with Internationally renowned concert pianist Jacek Mysinsky. Join Isabella and friends for an evening of solos and pas de Deux from some of the most beloved classical ballets ever. theargyros.org

Rebecca’s Private Idaho

Aug. 31-Sept. 3

Rebecca’s Private Idaho (RPI) offers up to four days of racing and riding over nearly 200 miles of pristine gravel right in the center of Idaho’s heartland. Choose from one of our one-day gravel races or our coveted four-day Queen’s Stage Race for experienced and elite racers. One of America’s longest-running, mass-participation gravel races, RPI supports the charitable efforts of the Be Good Foundation. rebeccasprivateidaho.com

SEPTEMBER

Wagon Days

Sept. 1-3

Since 1958, the City of Ketchum has celebrated its mining history with one of the largest non-motorized parades in the West. Come spend the weekend with the whole family and watch the Big Hitch Parade on Saturday at 1 p.m. The Big Hitch Parade, featuring quality buggies, carriages, carts and stagecoaches, is one of the largest non-motorized parades in the Pacific Northwest. The grand finale, as always, is the “Big Hitch,” the historic Lewis Ore Wagons pulled by a 20mule jerk line. Big Hitch Parade Saturday, Sept. 2 at 1 p.m. Street Party Saturday, Sept. 2, 10 a.m.– 4 p.m. Full 2023 schedule to be released later.

Kings of Rodeo

IDAHO’S KING RODEO COMPANY WORKING TO CREATE FUTURE CHAMPIONS

WORDS BY PATTI MURPHY P HOTOS BY HILLARY MAYBERY

The white-knuckle sport of rodeo bronc riding harkens back to the rough and tumble traditions of the Mexican ranch hands of the early 1800s.

These Mexican cowboys, or vaqueros, were expert horsemen that perfected the roping and riding skills required to round up lost or sick animals or break wild horses. During downtime between ranch work, the vaqueros would compete in rodears, which in Spanish means to encircle or round up, to see who stays on the orneriest horse or could rope a calf the fastest—the same skills that are seen in today’s rodeo competitions.

Eventually, rodear was introduced to cowboys in America, and ranch-versus-ranch competitions sprang up with events such as bronc and bull riding and roping contests.

Idaho started in rodeo history when the War Bonnet Roundup was first held in 1912 in Idaho Falls. The event is still strong, hosting 450 competitors each summer in front of more than 15,000 rodeo enthusiasts. Today, rodeo events—both pro and amateur—can be found in every corner of the state of Idaho. Cowboys and cowgirls come from all over to compete in riding and roping, but where do the extraordinary animals come from?

Meet the Kings

Gene and Amanda King own King Rodeo Company, a rough stock contracting company that breeds and raises what some have called Idaho’s—and maybe even the West’s—finest bucking horses.

Making their home in Wilder, Idaho, near the Idaho-Oregon border, the Kings have about 250 horses of all ages—weanlings, yearlings, two- and three-year-olds, and the bareback and saddle broncs that are five or six years of age and older.

Between the 140 acres the Kings own in Wilder and a couple of thousand acres they lease in Wyoming, Utah, and Gem County, Idaho, there is plenty of land to breed and raise top rodeo stock.

“We aren’t the only rough stock breeders in Idaho, but I’d say we might be on the larger scale on numbers,” says Amanda. “And I would consider our breeding program award-winning. We’ve raised and sold a handful of horses that have gone on to the National Finals Rodeo (NFR) and have taken their cowboys to round wins.”

The NFR is the premier annual championship event hosted by the Professional Rodeo Cowboy Association. It is known as the world’s richest and most prestigious rodeo.

“Not everybody breeds their own horses; they buy horses we sell when we feel it’s not really working for us the way we want it to,” says Gene, who breeds 30 to 40 horses a year. Breeding and raising these horses enables him to produce broncs with the most desirable traits in a bucking horse.

In his horses, Gene looks for strong legs, a high kick, forward movement, rhythm and how they keep their head. “On the whole, I think the cowboys would say our horses are pretty good to get on and get some points. The goal is to give them the best shot to place.”

You breed your good bucking horses because they have the desire or the mentality to buck. They like it.

As a kid, Gene was involved with rodeo, but he never thought about raising rough stock. Later, he rodeoed with his mentor Jay Hoggan, who owned a smaller, amateur rodeo company and taught Gene how to handle the stock and run the operations. Gene bought out Hoggan in 2008 and started King Rodeo, which is now a stock contractor with the Professional Rodeo Cowboy Association (PRCA), the largest pro rodeo organization in the world. The PRCA sanctions events in the U.S., Canada, and Mexico.

It’s a Family Deal

Married since 2016, Gene and Amanda have rodeoed and raised bucking horses, bulls and barrel horses, plus their five kids: Grace, 22; Gwendolyn, 20; Georgia, 17; Gladys, 12; and Gatlin, 6; each of whom has inherited the rodeo spirit.

“All of them compete. The two older girls run barrels. Georgia, she’s in high school, and she made the national high school finals last year. Glady, she’s young, she’s in junior high, and she’s the same,” says Amanda.

“Gatlin is probably the most talented of us all,” she laughs. “He rides the biggest horse we have, named Bumpy. He’ll go out with me, and he can sort the horses. He opens up the gates. All the girls do, too; we sort and gather horses together. It’s a family deal.”

When asked about bronc riding, Amanda laughs and says, “Nobody in the family rides bucking horses, but we do have a boy coming up, so maybe.”

Solid Horses, Great Family

Kade Bruno, a saddle bronc rider who, in 2022, ranked 11th in the world and seventh in the NFR standings, has known the King family most of his life and has competed on their horses.

“Shoot, I’ve known Gene probably from when I was in eighth grade, and I’m 22 now. Gene has always had very, very good stock, and it’s only getting better,” he says.

Kade says he believes the Kings’ horses are the best in Idaho and some of the finest in the West.

“A lot of the buck comes from the mare, and Gene’s brood mares are some of the best, and he’s gone beyond measures to get great studs to cross these horses with. He takes pride in his horses and has worked hard to get where he’s at.

“They are good people, and they care more about taking care of the cowboys than anything. In a cowboy’s book, that means a lot when the contractors are looking out for you as well as their stock,” Kade explains.

Born to Buck

The performance of the bucking bronc in the arena is judged and receives points, just like the rider. These points are added together to get the final total for the ride.

“My intention isn’t to buck off anyone,” says Gene. “We want the cowboys to come and ride and be happy. I want the highest scores we can get. It makes us look really good when riders ride.”

Amanda agrees, saying, “One good buck off is always cool, but we want those guys to come to ride our horses and make 90 points and win the rodeo.”

She talked proudly of one of her and Gene’s favorite horses, an “underdog” named Popeye.

“Last year, our first pro rodeo was in Loganville, Nevada. We have this mare, Popeye, and she’s so much smaller than our other bucking

“

It’s our way of life, and in a way, these horses are family.

horses. Her ear is crooked, missing an eye, her face is kinda’ crooked, and she reminds me of a little Chihuahua, very small but fierce.

“She bucks, I mean really bucks! And Sage Newman, who ended fifth in world standings in saddle bronc, drew her last year at Loganville and ended up winning the rodeo on her with 89 ½ points. They tied the arena record on her on the Snake River Stampede last year as well,” Amanda says.

Amanda calls these broncs ‘majestic.’

“Some people think these horses are wild, but a lot of ours, you can go pet them in the pasture. But they also just like to buck. They’re born to do that. You breed your good bucking horses because they have the desire or the mentality to buck. They like it.

“I love them all, and I spend a lot of time with them, and I get very attached to them,” Amanda says. “Even on their bad days, I stand up for them and treat them like world champions.”

During a rodeo competition, all the broncs wear flank straps, a loose-fitting, double-padded sheepskin belt placed under their belly area that helps enhance the horses’ desire to buck.

“Flanks are like an aid to the bucking horses, much like cleats on the shoes of an athlete,” Amanda says. “An athlete can obviously play football or run the track with regular tennis shoes on, but cleats help them perform better. Same thing with the flank. It doesn’t make them buck; it just helps enhance them to buck a little bit better.”

Rodeo Culture

The Kings plan to go to 32 rodeos this year. “With our family, we do try and keep our rodeo trail in the Northwest, but I feel as our PRCA

career grows, our rodeo ‘radius’ will grow as well,” says Amanda.

“If we’re the primary stock contractor, we take a semi-load of 34 head of horses. We have three pod trailers, one straight deck trailer carrying about 24 horses, and two big stock trailers.

“Our daughter Gwendolyn drives trucks and hauls semis. Everybody we hire that rodeos with us is like family; they know us and our animals. We don’t hire anybody that we wouldn’t have at our dinner table. Everything is close-knit around here,” she says.

Keeping the horses safe is of utmost importance. So when the Kings bought their Wilder horse property, they tore out every fence, pasture and arena and started from scratch to make it safe for the horses.

“Everything here has been rebuilt with our animals in mind,” Amanda says.

Kade echoes Amanda, saying, “These horses are very special to the cowboys and contractors. It’s our way of life, and in a way, these horses are family.”

Ultimately, underneath the boots and spurs and the bells and whistles of rodeo, it’s about people who care about each other and their animals.

“Every night at a rodeo is like going to a high school reunion,” Gene says. “You get to see all your friends that you haven’t seen in a month or even six months. That’s where you meet everybody from all over. Shoot, it’s a pretty big melting pot, and even though we’re in a competition, everybody, for the most part, helps each other. There is a lot of comradery.”

Says Kade, “This life is short and surrounding yourself with great people and enjoying rodeo with people like that is pretty special.”

MARK TRAHANT

The National Native American Hall of Fame honors distinguished Idaho journalist

BY PAMELA KLEIBRINK THOMPSON

Born at Idaho’s Fort Hall Indian Reservation in the 1950s, author and journalist Mark Trahant has left an impression as a member of Idaho’s Shoshone-Bannock tribes.

As a reporter, television correspondent, speaker and teacher, Trahant works to provide opportunities for those whose voices are not often heard. For his work on behalf of Native Americans, Trahant has been honored by The National Native American Hall of Fame. He will be recognized on Saturday, October 14, 2023, at the First Americans Museum (FAM) in Oklahoma City.

James Parker Shield, founder and CEO of the National Native American Hall of Fame, shares, “Mark Trahant has been chronicling Indian news and history for a long time. His journalism and unique perspective are well respected.”

Also, in October, Trahant will be honored with the Distinguished Achievement Award from the Western Literature Association at their conference held at Fort Hall.

Trahant attended school in California, where his mom lived, but spent summers with his dad and grandparents in Fort Hall. After high school in Pasadena, he moved home and had a summer job producing a video (back in the days of heavy equipment) about the Fort Hall Festival.

“Then I got a job with a radio station. I had a weekly tribal affairs program and was the play-by-play announcer for basketball games,” says Trahant. Then, at age 19, he started working at the Sho-Ban News as the editor. He’s also worked at newspapers in Arizona, Navajo Nation, Seattle and Moscow, Idaho.

Now an editor of Indian Country, Trahant finds that digital and social media can be powerful tools to broaden perspectives. As a reporter for PBS’ Frontline series, he shattered the silence surrounding sexual abuse by priests in an Alaska Native village in the Frontline piece, “The Silence.”

“The people I met in that story are so amazing,” he says. And that story still haunts him.

Trahant was nominated for a Pulitzer Prize for National Reporting in 1988 for a series of articles that profiled corruption and misman-

agement in Federal Indian programs and helped generate a Senate investigation. Trahant also served as chairman and chief executive officer at the Robert C. Maynard Institute for Journalism and has held an endowed chair at the University of North Dakota and the University of Alaska Anchorage.

Trahant wanted to be a writer as long as he can remember.

“When I was a kid, I produced a crayon newspaper and distributed them to family. I wish I could remember the stories. When I was still a teenager, I sold an essay to Idaho Heritage magazine and was paid 2 cents a word—I thought that was so cool and couldn’t wait to pitch more stories. One thing I loved about Southern Idaho is that we had so many sources of news. One of my mentors, Perry Swisher, would write critiques, and I learned a lot from that.

“My favorite memories as a child were just over the hill from Sun Valley, in the Salmon River headwaters,” says Trahant; he used to camp and fish for Chinook salmon at Yankee Fork with his grandparents. “One fabulous project I worked on was a tribute to the river for the Sun Valley Center for the Arts. (The Whole Salmon).”

Trahant’s book The Last Great Battle of the Indian Wars was published in 2010. It tells the story of how Senator Henry “Scoop” Jackson (D-WA) and Forrest Gerrard changed the landscape of Indian Affairs, reversing a policy of termination and assimilation to begin the era of self-governance and self-determination for tribes.

“The book covered an area of history that no one else was writing about,” Trahant says. “When I think about my career, I am overwhelmed by how much luck I have had.”

To aspiring writers, Trahant advises, “Write fast. There is nothing wrong with an imperfect first draft. The craft comes when you take those ideas and turn them into prose. I rewrite everything, even on deadline, and I still write a rough draft fast. I will sit down and produce a couple of thousand words and then go to town with rewrites.”

Trahant, who has written more than a thousand stories and three books, concludes, “I write about complicated subjects, so my goal as a writer is always making it understandable. The best advice I read from Strunk & White …, ‘The more complex the subject, the simpler the sentences.’ My goal is to tell a good story and help people understand complex issues or histories.” ï

‘‘ I write about complicated subjects, so my goal as a writer is always making it understandable.

—MARK TRAHANT

—EMILY KNOWLES

At 47, the focus and discipline of months of rigorous training and coaching allows Knowles to achieve the peak physique needed for WNBF competition.

‘‘It’s a day-in, day-out grind that doesn’t come easy. There is no opting out of a workout. You have to be 100% in.

EMILY KNOWLES

World Champion natural bodybuilder flexes her muscles

BY LORI WILLIAMS

Ever since college, when she began stoking an insatiable desire to develop six-pack abs, Emily Knowles put bodybuilding on her bucket list. When she started working in the fitness industry, she began training with a sciencebased approach. “I wanted to embark on a body transformation journey to see how developed I could get when everything came together perfectly but naturally— with nutrition, sleep recovery and training,” says Knowles.

Her first competition, in 2004, was a National Gym Association (NGA) show in Boise. “There was one category and no bling,” she says. “I was hooked on the entire process and end result.”

Now 47, not only does she have a six-pack, but 17 bodybuilding competitions behind her, resulting in the bling of numerous awards, the sweetest of which is her 2021 Las Vegas World’s Natural Bodybuilding Federation (WNBF) Championship in Open Figure and last year’s Los Angeles WNBF second place in Master’s Figure.

Knowles has won throughout the Pacific Northwest in two of the six female competition categories—Body Building and Physique, judged primarily by visible muscle size and striation. Her first year competing in Figure was 2021, which was judged more on symmetry and lean muscle mass. It was a decision she made after encouragement from coaches and judges for her smaller body type. It proved a good move.

For Knowles, the personal journey to champion is reinforced with desire, resolve and mindset in a sport that has become more than bulked-up muscles resembling their male counterpart, but rather a meticulous body sculpting, a combination of muscle size, symmetry and conditioning, where success demands achieving peak physique on competition day. It’s a competitive journey she’s approached the same way as life—naturally and well-balanced. Competition training is six-days-a-week non-negotiable—cycled weight training workouts, exercises, diet, nutrition, supplements and, most important, sleep—a strict regimen for total body support and workout recovery. Food is measured, and macros are counted. Then, a month before competition, the beastly diet gets hard and tight.

“It is hard, hard work. I have a coach who guides my diet and training routines, but I don’t have extra help. It’s a day-in, day-out grind that doesn’t come easy. There is no opting out of a workout. You have to be 100% in,” explains Knowles.

Spend an hour in the gym with the well-known personal trainer and fitness instructor, and you will understand her love of the lifestyle, body-confidence perspective and belief in nutrition. “It can be inspiring for others to see me get to competition-level fitness, but also for them to see the reality of my physique fluctuate,” says Knowles.

The gym has been where she’s felt most at home most of her life. As a teenager, she would lift and work out with her dad at a small gym near her family’s home in Bellevue, Wash. “I’ve always felt drawn towards the energy of a gym,” says Knowles. “When I don’t work out, I don’t feel good physically, emotionally, or mentally. Exercise is medicine.”

Balancing life and training can be demanding and daunting, with personal sacrifices affecting the people around you. “What has always worked for my family and me is that I am not a year-round competitor,” says Knowles. “I still work out; I’m just not competing. Bodybuilders are hard to live with, and training can be stressful. There are times I must be selfish, but first and foremost, I’m a wife and mom. I believe it’s possible to set a goal, achieve it, and still have your personal priorities intact. You just have to do it very thoughtfully and carefully.”

For Knowles, 2021 dawned with many unknowns. She lost a job of 20 years and started a new business venture but kept focused on qualifying for Worlds. It was a rigorous year of training and competing.

“Every show was tentative because of COVID uncertainties, but I had to keep focused on prepping,” she says. “It was definitely harder to keep competing in order to qualify for Worlds, and at 46, I felt like that was my one shot.”

At a show in Seattle in September 2021, she won gold, qualified, and gained her PRO card status in Figure Masters (age 40 and up). Then another challenge presented itself: Carlie Brocksome, Knowles’ Boise coach, became sick right before the Las Vegas World Championships, and the lack of physical support was challenging.

“Without (Carlie) there, it was hard to get in the pre-competition prepping zone,” says Knowles. “As I eyed other competitors, my selfesteem was probably at its lowest. I had to dig deep and remind myself how hard I’ve worked.” Resolve triumphed. Knowles won, having competed against some women half her age. One year later, she was back on the podium in second place.

“After every competition, I always say this could be my last show, not this is my last show,” she says, chuckling. “I know there is going to be an endpoint for me soon and I want to finish well. I mean, why stop?” ï

KELLY WARDELL

Idaho Tough: A look at the legacy of a rodeo cowboy

BY CLAUDIA WEATHERMON

“Bareback riders endure more abuse, suffer more injuries and carry away more long-term damage than all other rodeo cowboys.”

That’s how the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association describes bareback— the showdown between a cowboy strapped to a feisty, kicking bronc with just some leather and cowhide wound around one hand.

It’s not something Kelly Wardell’s mother wanted him to do. She’d seen how rodeo life battered his father. But at age 15, Wardell issued an ultimatum; let him compete or he’d leave home and do it anyway. So, she signed the release allowing him to join the high school rodeo team in his “blink and you’ll miss it” hometown of Big Piney, Wyo.

After a storied career as a professional cowboy, Wardell now resides on an acreage outside of Shoshone, where he tends a few critters, welds, rides and stays fit. He’s also the assistant rodeo coach for the College of Southern Idaho. You can bet he has the rapt attention of students, given his history. Wardell is a PRCA Gold Card member who competed at the highest level for 30 years. He could practically pave an arena with the prize buckles earned in pro-rodeo wins and circuit finals championships. He even has a bronze Olympic medal.

On a sunny Saturday in May, he is driving—without a trailer in tow—to a former student’s wedding. “I’m actually going to perform the ceremony. I’ve done it for about six guys I’ve coached.” In those few words, you grasp how deeply Wardell connects with the young men who share his passion for bareback riding. He speaks with the steady cadence of someone with plenty of windshield time for contemplation. But his pace increases when describing a good eight-second ride. “It’s an adrenaline high like no other. If you could bottle the feeling when you get off that horse and see 90 points, you’d get a million dollars ten times over. It’s the greatest drug in the world!”

Wardell quips that he’s spent the second half of his life paying for the first half. Bareback riders usually age out of competition in their late 20s, but by age 38, he was still strapped on and ranked number one in the world. He’d overcome ten broken bones and seven major surgeries yet was still competing against guys half his age.

When he finally retired, Wardell says he could barely move. He turned to mixed martial arts to regain flexibility, but within three

months had worked his way to peak physical performance and ended up opening a gym. That occupied much of the next eight years. Then, at age 51, the cowboy turned MMA fighter did something unheard of; he returned to bareback riding, “I was in the best shape of my life, I still had that desire to compete.”

Compete he did, qualifying for the NFR for another two years, the oldest bareback rider in history to do so.

Wardell started coaching other cowboys back in 1998 while still a competitor himself. He recalls being surrounded by four of his students who were about to compete against him. “They said, ‘Mr. Wardell, it’s just an honor to ride with you today,’ it about made me cry.”

His drive to compete is now poured into helping his students be successful. Wardell knows when a cowboy has what it takes. “It’s the most physically demanding sport. If they put in time every day, I can put them on a shorter route than the one I took. We fine-tune their mechanics. And 95 percent is what’s between their ears. I never had anyone help me and could get off-track. I had ups and downs and everything in between. The mental game is key.” He counts at least eight of his students who’ve made it to the ‘big dance,’ the NFR.

Mental toughness was carved the hard way for Wardell. He lost his biggest supporter, his brother, to suicide and suffered through some dark times. Eventually, the loss created an uncommon intensity that allowed him to compete beyond the age when most bareback riders call it quits. He also credits his life partner, Barb, with steady support.

Wardell has been coaching at CSI for six years and has many high school and college rodeo champions among his proteges. He travels for teaching clinics and stays busy with endorsements and the PRCA.

He’d also like to patent and produce a unique bucking machine that replicates the movement of a bronco. “A friend made it 40 or 50 years ago. I keep welding it back together to keep it runnin’. I don’t think there’s another one like it in the world. You either have money or time, just not both together.”

He’s been approached about having his story told on the big screen and likes showcasing the unique aspects of rodeo and the Western way of life. But for now, Kelly Wardell is content just living that life in beautiful Idaho after so many live-or-die encounters on the bare back of a bucking bronc. ï

Wardell at the Gooding Pro Rodeo, May 2023

‘‘

If you could bottle the feeling when you get off that horse and see 90 points, you’d get a million dollars ten times over.

—KELLY WARDELL

SANDHILL CRANE IDAHO and the

PHOTOS BY NANCY WHITEHEAD WORDS BY LAURIE SAMMIS

Sandhill cranes, one of only two crane species found in North America, are among the oldest birds on Earth. Fossil records have estimated a sandhill crane fossil in the Macasphalt Shell Pit in Florida to be 2.5 million years old and fossils found on the central flyway in Nebraska from a very closely related bird, the crowned crane, dates back 10 million years. Cranes have been imbued with powers of longevity, credited with bringing to humans everything from language to dance. Standing nearly four feet tall, these stately and majestic birds mate for life and are typically found in pairs or family groups traveling together, except during migration, when thousands of cranes form extremely large flocks. Unlike geese, cranes travel in more fluid and drifting lines, always following one leader, but shifting apart and reforming their ranks like water flowing through rocky riverbed.

ANCIENT RITUALS

Elegant courtship displays are believed to strengthen the bond of paired adult birds and sandhill cranes mate for life, but only after they are four or five years old, and they will search for a new mate if theirs dies. The pair’s bond is cemented by the “dance” of the sandhill, which involves elaborate bowing displays with outstretched wings, leaping into the air on long legs, bobbing their heads and extending their wings to their full width of up to 7 feet as the two sexes face each other. The courtship dance is repeated continuously throughout the life of the bonded pair and often even includes picking up an object such as a stick to throw it upward repeatedly in an even more exaggerated display. Scientists also believe that young cranes (called “colts”) do not simply inherit this ability, but must be taught the courtship dance by their parents.

Grays Lake National

Refuge in

Idaho hosts the largest nesting population of greater

sandhill cranes in the world, as well as serving as a staging area, or rest place, where cranes gather before continuing their migration south to

New Mexico, Arizona and Mexico for the winter (marking the fall migration, between late August and October), before traveling back north during the spring

migration on their way to breeding grounds in Alaska and the Arctic coast of Canada (between February, March and April).

Wildlife

eastern

CRANES HAVE BEEN IMBUED WITH POWERS OF LONGEVITY, CREDITED WITH BRINGING TO HUMANS EVERYTHING FROM LANGUAGE TO DANCE.

JUST PASSING THROUGH

The ancient guttural, bugling call of sandhill cranes is unmistakable, a low, loud and rattling trumpeting that carries as far as two to three miles. These birds are fast and high fliers, often traveling at speeds of 25-35 mph at an altitude of around 6,000 to 7,000 feet, and sometimes as high as 13,000 feet as they migrate through the mountain ranges of the

Intermountain West through Idaho, Utah, Wyoming, and Colorado—so it is common to hear their prehistoric bugling long before spotting any birds flying high overhead. They tend to fly long distances, as well, typically traveling 200-300 miles in a day, but can travel up to 500 or 600 miles in a single day with a good tail wind.

Some sandhill cranes travel great distances, crossing the Bering Straits every spring and fall or migrating north to breeding grounds in Alaska and the Arctic coast of Canada.

The early spring gathering of migrating sandhill cranes in Nebraska—where 300,000 to 500,000 cranes converge upon one 75-80-mile stretch of the Platte River— is considered one of the greatest wildlife spectacles on earth.

CREATING A FAMILY

Mated pairs of sandhill cranes build their nests together, sharing in incubation and caring for the young sandhill cranes (called “colts”). Colts are capable of leaving the nest the day they are born, and can run and swim less than eight hours after they hatch. However, strong family bonds exist and juveniles, identifiable by their tannish brown heads with no red, usually stay with their parents for up to 10 months, only leaving the family group the spring after hatching. ï

THE ANCIENT GUTTURAL, BUGLING CALL IS UNMISTAKABLE, A LOW, LOUD AND RATTLING TRUMPETING THAT CARRIES AS FAR AS TWO TO THREE MILES.

SHAPING IDAHO

CELEBRATING THE 160TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE GEM STATE’S INCEPTION TO THE UNION

PAMELA KLEIBRINK THOMPSON

It’s hard to imagine the drastic change in our society in 2023, but celebrating the past reminds us that sweeping change was, at one time, as constant as a flowing river.

This year we celebrated Idaho’s inception as a territory 160 years ago. But it almost didn’t happen.

President Abraham Lincoln officially created the Idaho Territory when the United States was embroiled in the Civil War. The area had numerous resources that the president knew were vital to the Union, especially gold, discovered in Idaho by Captain Elias Davidson Pierce.

Disguising himself as an Indian trader because he was trespassing on the federally established Nez Perce reservation, Pierce successfully panned for gold on February 20, 1860, on the North Fork of the Clearwater River. Pierce returned with a group of 12 prospectors in August but met with limited success until the fall of that year.

Captain Pierce said, “We moved down and camped on the stream. Here we found better prospects than further up the stream where we first made the discovery, which was a sufficient guarantee that we had a rich and extensive mining camp, and organized a new mining district, and gave its boundaries, drafted a code of mining laws, to govern our new mining district.”

A historical marker on Idaho State Highway 11 in Pierce, Idaho, in Clearwater County, commemorates the event: “The famous gold rush days of Idaho began on September 30, 1860, when WF Bassett struck gold just about here. E.D. Pierce, who knew the country, had led 12 prospectors, including Bassett, out from Walla Walla in August. After news of the strike spread, about 60 men came in and wintered nearby in spite of snow and Indians. Next spring, the stampede was on and by that July, this six-month-old county cast the largest vote in Washington Territory.”

By the following summer, several thousand men had set up tents along the banks of the Clearwater and into the adjacent hills. Men and supplies came from The Dalles up the Columbia River by steamboat,

and pack trains left daily for the mines. They quickly established a townsite called Lewiston to honor Meriwether Lewis, who had explored the area with the Corps of Discovery in 1805.

In the early morning of March 4, 1863, Lincoln signed the act creating Idaho Territory to strengthen the Union cause. The new territory had 20,000 people and many valuable resources, especially gold.

Originally Idaho Territory included all of Montana and practically all of Wyoming.

Mountain ranges formed a natural divide between three different populations. Miners east of the Bitterroot Mountains agitated for the partition of Idaho Territory during the winter of 1863-64. They were far removed from Lewiston and wanted to form a new territory. Idaho’s first chief justice, Sidney Edgerton, who had influence with Lincoln and members of Congress, was chosen to represent their cause in Washington, D.C.

In May 1864, Congress created the new territory of Montana, which included the northeastern part of Idaho. Most of Idaho Territory’s modern-day Wyoming land was reassigned to the Dakota Territory.

Two sections of Idaho were still separated by a difficult mountain barrier.

The legacy of differences between the opposing sides in the Civil War continued in Idaho as the territory dealt with factions allied with either the North or South.

A historical marker at Notus City Park in Canyon County reads, “Confederate refugees from Missouri started farming in this area in 1863 and 1864 when gold and silver mining camps created a great demand for flour and cattle. Driven out from their Missouri River homes below Kansas City by extremely bitter Civil War border warfare, they got a new start by digging riverside canals and planting crops. They helped make Idaho an overwhelmingly southern Democratic territory from 1864 to 1880. Settlements from Caldwell to Notus were known as Dixie, and those farther west were called Lower Boise.”

Clockwise from top left: Territorial Governor William Wallace, Sidney Edgerton, Clinton Dewitt Smith, Elias Davidson Pierce, and Wilbur Bassett.

GOLD PANNING: IDAHO STATE HISTORICAL SOCIETY ARCHIVES, PORTRAITS (THIS PAGE): NATIONAL ARCHIVES

Boise State historian Todd Shallat said that establishing Idaho as a northern stronghold was a key part of Lincoln’s war strategy. “The Civil War [was] fought in the West over capitalist expansion. There were different ideas about how to do that, and the Lincoln Republicans, pro-capitalistic, pro-railroad, homesteader coalition is still very, very powerful.”

There was another conflict between the North and South in Idaho. The North wanted the state’s capitol building to be located in Lewiston, and many contended that the Southern Idahoans “stole” the capital.

William Wallace, Idaho’s first territorial governor, selected Lewiston as the capital city since it was the largest town in the new territory and was the closest to Wallace’s residence in Steilacoom in Washington Territory.

However, when the second legislature met, most of the mining activity and population shifted to the southern part of the territory in 1864. Delegates of the new counties wanted the capitol building in Boise.

“The Boise faction mustered enough votes to ... change the capital city from Lewiston to Boise. The Lewiston delegates were furious and pulled out all the legal stops to enjoin the South from moving the territorial seal and archives,” writes Betty Derig in her book Roadside History of Idaho.

In March 1865, Clinton Dewitt Smith, territorial secretary and acting governor, broke into the executive office building in Lewiston and took custody of important documents and the territorial seal with the help of cavalry soldiers from Fort Lapwai. With the military escort, Smith took control of the Clearwater River ferry and crossed the Snake River into Washington Territory. Smith’s group reached Boise with the territorial archives and seal on April 14, 1865, one day before Lincoln’s assassination.

Alonzo Leland used his promotional skills as a journalist to publicize Idaho’s mines, and after the capital was moved to Boise, he used his personal persuasion skills and editorial writing to propose creating a new territory that would include northern Idaho, eastern Washington and western Montana.

As Fred T. Dubois writes in The Making of a State, “The members of the legislature from these northern counties...felt North Idaho was almost solidly in favor of annexation, and their reasons for it were logical and appealing ... There was very little communication between the North and South, and it was no wonder they desired to be separated.”

The state of Nevada had been losing population and was looking at annexing southern Idaho. In 1887, the U.S. Senate and House approved legislation to cede part of Idaho to create the new Nevada territory.

President Grover Cleveland appointed Idaho resident Edward Stevenson as the first territorial governor. Like Cleveland, Stevenson

was a Democrat and was from one of America’s great political families. Stevenson sent a strongly worded telegraph urging the president not to sign the bill to create the new territory, saving Idaho from absorption by other states and territories.

The bill reached Cleveland, but he didn’t sign it, effectively vetoing it. After rescuing Idaho Territory from annexation, Stevenson advocated for Idaho statehood. Stevenson was aided by Fred T. Dubois, whose father was a close friend of Abraham Lincoln and who accompanied the Lincolns to the president’s inauguration.

Dubois was a Republican and got himself elected as a territorial delegate to Congress. In 1889, when Republican Benjamin Harrison became president, Dubois was able to exert his influence and pushed for Idaho’s statehood. Dubois witnessed President Benjamin Harrison signing the Idaho statehood bill on July 3, 1890, making Idaho the 43rd state in the Union.

State borders in the mountain west are still at issue today. Eleven counties in eastern Oregon have voted to join the sstate of Idaho, moving the Oregon-Idaho border west to the Cascade Mountain range. Matt McCaw, a spokesperson for the Greater Idaho effort, stated, “We could move that border and get the people in Eastern Oregon governance that ... matches their values. It makes far more sense for them to get government from Idaho because they’re socially, culturally, economically, politically, much more aligned with Idahoans than they are with Western Oregonians.”

The shape of Idaho and its borders may change again from what was established by Congress in 1868.

Idaho Senator Rick Just noted that the southern border of Idaho was established in a treaty negotiated by Secretary of State John Quincy Adams in February 1819, which stated that “Spain would give up Florida, but also that the two countries would settle on the 42nd Parallel west to the Pacific Ocean as the boundary between their territories.”

Senator Just might get a chance to vote to change the shape. In February 2023, the Idaho House of Representatives voted to approve a resolution authorizing talks about annexing eastern Oregon. It goes to the Senate next.

“The proposal to move state boundaries is virtually impossible to execute,” notes Rep. Ned Burns. “In each state, it would take a concurrent resolution passed by two-thirds of each body, then a vote of the citizens, then an amendment to the state constitutions, and finally an act of Congress signed by the president.”

Idaho’s long tradition of boundary disputes and shifting borders seems likely to continue. ï

The construction of the capitol building in Boise. CAPITOL BUILDING: IDAHO STATE HISTORICAL SOCIETY ARCHIVES, LEWISTON EXECUTIVE BUILDING (OPPOSITE PAGE): COSMOS MARINER

Settlements from Caldwell to Notus were known as Dixie, and those farther west were called Lower Boise.”

inthe arts

Sizzlin’ Summer Tunes

Wood River Valley will be Jammin’ in the Heat

BY HAYDEN SEDER

There’s something special about live music on summer nights in Sun Valley, whether lying on the grass looking up at the stars as you take in the tunes or kicking your heels up by the stage with friends. And the options indeed abound; from Ketch’em Alive and Hailey Live to the Sun Valley Music Festival to local performers playing on the decks of your favorite burger joint, there’s always somewhere to take in a live show. Of course, there are also some must-see concerts this summer, for the big names playing them, the venue, or a combination of both. Here are this summer’s hottest tickets.

june 22-25

SAWTOOTH VALLEY GATHERING

The eighth annual Sawtooth Valley Gathering (SVG) will take place in Stanley at the foot of the Sawtooth Mountains on June 22–25. One of Idaho’s most celebrated summer music events, SVG is four days of live performances from over 30 national, regional and local bands on three outdoor stages. In addition, there’s ample opportunity for even more music, with late-night shows

at Mountain Village Resort’s Velvet Falls Dance Hall and the Kasino Club.

“The Sawtooth Valley Gathering is one of the best-kept music festival secrets in a beautiful place with amazing people and off-the-chart performers,” says founder James Fowler.

This year’s headliners are singer/ songwriter Margo Price and band Fruition and Band of Heathens. Both attendees and performers love this unique festival, so much so that many performers return year after year, including this year’s Daniel Rodriguez, Dead Winter Carpenters, TK & The Holy Know-Nothings and the Jon Stickley Trio.

New to SVG this year are The Black Tones, Ketchum favorite The Pisten Bulleys, Diggin Dirt and songwriter Shaina Shepherd, to name a few. Music on Thursday, June 22, and Sunday, June 25, will take place at Mountain Village, and all other music will be at Sawtooth Valley Pioneer Park, where on-site camping is available. Festival passes are sold separately from camping and late-night music tickets. sawtoothvalleygathering.com

Fruition

Margo Price

Marcus King will perform at the Sun Valley Pavilion on the Fourth of July

Oil on canvas 78” x 60”

june 25

ELLE KING

SVM o A CONCERT SERIES

Powerhouse country rocker

Elle King, known for songs like “Ex’s and Oh’s,” will play with up-and-coming folk-rock band Michigan Rattlers at the Sun Valley Pavilion.

july 4

july 5

GRAHAM NASH

PRESENTED BY ARGYROS

The Argyro’s biggest show of the year is Graham Nash, legendary artist and founding member of both the Hollies and Crosby, Stills, and Nash.

MARCUS KING

SUN VALLEY RESORT & RJK ENTERTAINMENT

Celebrate the Fourth of July this year like never before with Grammy-nominated artist Marcus King, opener and local band Tylor & the Train Robbers, fireworks and more. This all-ages event kicks off at the Sun Valley Pavilion at 6:30 p.m. with the sounds of Americana and rock musician Marcus King. Formerly the lead singer, guitarist, and founder of The Marcus King Band, King released his solo album El Dorado in 2020, garnering him a Grammy nomination for Best Americana Album. The show ends at 10 p.m. with a fireworks show. Portions of the proceeds from the concert will go to the Blaine County Charitable Fund and Stella’s Shelter Fund.

july 25-26

HUNTER NOACK

SVM o A CONCERT SERIES

You won’t want to miss this one-of-a-kind, immersive musical evening of classical music in the wild. In a Landscape is the brainchild of pianist Hunter Noack, who will bring his nine-foot Steinway piano to wild locations across the West this summer—in this case, off the bike path, just south of River Run near the John Grade “Spur” sculpture—to bring audiences closer to both music and nature. Attendees will receive headphones and are encouraged to bring chairs and picnics as they are surrounded by the sounds of Noack in the wild.

july 29

ANDY FRASCO & THE U.S.

PRESENTED BY ARGYROS

Local favorite Andy Frasco & the U.S. will perform at the Argyros on July 29. Despite playing over 250 shows per year for over a decade, Frasco is still coming up with fresh takes, the latest of which is his 2022 album Wash, Rinse, Repeat. This is a 21+ event.

august 10

THE WOOD BROTHERS & THE INFAMOUS STRINGDUSTERS

SVM o A CONCERT SERIES

The Wood Brothers will open at River Run Lodge with their soulful folk and Americana sounds before bluegrass band The Infamous Stringdusters (pictured) take the stage. ï

Block Life Out and Let Art In

Woodcutter Tom Hammick’s Gallery Debut

BY WINTER WARCHOL

As Tom Hammick’s collection debuts at the Gail Severn Gallery in Ketchum, the British artist gives patrons something to ponder.

From melancholy scenes of isolated figures to bright flowering fields and oceans, these wood prints and oil paintings truly capture the range of our human experience. Instead of thinking “either-or,” Hammick’s work combines inspirations, mediums and perspectives. He believes art begets art, and working with new subjects and mediums helps “paint” the picture of a full life.

Beginning his career studying Art History at the University of Manchester, Hammick was, as some young people are, without direction for the first bit of his life. However, he always enjoyed the arts, and after working as a stonemason on the spire of Salisbury Cathedral, he set foot in the Camberwell College of Art, and his world opened.

When asked why he chose the life of an artist, Hammick simply says, “I suppose in the end I just had to do it.”

Hammick has always loved the arts and draws inspiration from poets like Elizabeth

“Night Swimmer II E.V., (3/17)” by Tom Hammick at Gail Severn Gallery, edition variable reduction woodcut with hand painting, 29.50 in. x 42 in.

Severn Art Services

Picture Framing & Art Installation for 48 Years

Severn Art Services offers custom archival framing, featuring vintage and contemporary frames for fine art, mirrors, and three-dimensional objects of all sizes

Art storage and professional advisory services for artwork valuations conservation and restoration

Professional services for indoor and outdoor art installations

Severn Art Services is located in Gail Severn Gallery

Severn Art Services

Bishop and Robert Frost and painters like the classics Goya and Velasquez or the more contemporary Bob Thompson and Philip Guston. Seeing art as a “barometer” of the world, Hammick’s commentary on love and loss through paintings and printmaking helps lead the observer to the water of more profound emotion, but art does not make them drink.

In fact, Hammick made it abundantly clear when asked what he would say to patrons of his exhibitions, that he would say nothing at all (at least in theory) and hope that, like poetry, he gave them enough to elicit a more profound feeling but withheld enough for that feeling to be uniquely theirs.

Mainly working in printmaking and oil painting, Hammick divides his time between

his two studios in South Bermondsey and Deptford. Although different on the surface (literally and figuratively), the two styles complement each other. Similar to the way a classic novel influences a play, deciding which medium to work in doesn’t mean forsaking the other. The creative process is how these two mediums differ from Hammick’s perspective. He comments that painting can be a little isolating. In a world of distraction, getting into the right mind space is challenging, especially with constant notifications and noise from technology.

In contrast, getting lost in the printmaking process distracts from the immensity of the final piece and lets him

“Anne Truelove and her Rake E.v., (18/35)” by Tom Hammick at Gail Severn Gallery, edition variable etching, 23 in. x 18 in.

“Libestod E.V., 2020, (4/10)” by Tom Hammick at Gail Severn Gallery, edition variable reduction woodcut, 66.75 in. x 39.37 in.

Tom Hammick, in his studio

work collaboratively with others and focus more on the process than the final product. When carving intricate details or mapping out colors, the studio becomes a community of people working for a common goal.

Both of these mediums can be difficult but well worth it, and taking time to create work gives Hammick a way to escape the bustle of everyday life and center himself once more.

Talking to Hammick reminds you that the world is full of adventure. He champions a life of culture, saying, “Watch movies, eat good food, explore, be inquisitive,” since these sorts of things eventually blend together into someone’s perspective. He seems to be, instead of jaded, very revived by his life so far. He explained that, as a painter, you get to a certain point where you’ve experienced so much, “you’re on your own, really.”

Someone’s personal style comes from their experience and intrinsic feeling that no one can recreate. His scenes of isolated figures or dark scenery may seem melancholy at first, but the scenes are not necessarily gloomy in their message. Hammick enjoys providing an artistic commentary on facets of life like love and loss and the human

condition. These heavier moments can absolutely include sadness; however, within those moments are joy and appreciation as well.

This mirrors the reality of life. Yet, sometimes the most solemn moments are connected to feelings of connection and appreciation for the people and the world around us.

Hammick provided background on his creative process for a series of paintings titled “My Sister’s Garden.” These include etchings, paintings, and pen and ink drawings combining lighter-colored flowers and skies with darker human figures and buildings. When visiting his sister “Koodge” in the English countryside during political unrest in England, Hammick observed his sister’s care for her garden with wonder. He called her a “shepherd of the Earth,” a lovely phrase that sums up the protection of her land, allowing life to flourish.

While Hammick was led to the arts, Koodge’s life journey led her to the earth. Both siblings found peace in their individual crafts, and Hammick attempted to recreate his amazement at the impact of caring for a piece of the planet and how quiet it is on the soul through art.

Hammick’s scenes tie directly with the natural environment he admired in the Western U.S. during his six-month solo trip to America before University. He has always been fascinated by the “American Dream” and the idea of exploring the West and undeveloped land. As a result, he actively seeks out scenes of peace and calm to be his subjects and presents humans and nature working in harmony.

With nature and culture closely tied in Sun Valley, his work feels local despite being produced miles away. His collection debuts from July 1st to September 1st.

“Sailing on to Port Clyde” by Tom Hammick at Gail Severn Gallery, oil on canvas, 42 in. x 33 in.

‘‘Watch movies, eat good food, explore, be inquisitive.

—TOM HAMMICK

“Dame Doon, Silent Disco IV” by Tom Hammick at Gail Severn Gallery, oil on canvas, 22.50 in. x 26.75 in.

WitheightPulitzerPrizewinners,fiveNationalBookAwardfinalists,seven“NewYorkTimes”bestsellers, andaU.S.PoetLaureate,the2023SunValleyWriters’Conferencewillfeature“thestrongest literarylistwe’veeverhad,”accordingtoLiteraryDirectorJohnBurnhamSchwartz.

Seethecompletelistof2023writers&presentersatsvwc.com

WhilefullConferencepasseshavesoldout,youcanstillpurchasesingleevent tickets($35each),joinusontheSunValleyPavilionLawnforfree,orlivestream selecteventsforfree(registrationrequired).Learnmoreatsvwc.com.

PhotoCredits:Mandel–SarahShatz;Klein–LucasFoglia;Keefe–PhilipMontgomery;Yong–UrszulaSoltys;Mathews–DondreStuetley;Zamora–GerardodelValle;Applebaum–Verghese–BarbiReed;Elliott–NinaSubin

The Power of Story

Is

Abraham Verghese stealing time?

BY LAURIE SAMMIS

Despite being a New York Times bestselling author and National Humanities Medal award winner, Abraham Verghese, MD, MACP, is still a practicing physician and professor of medicine at Stanford University, where he is vice-chair in the department of medicine and director of PRESENCE, a research center exploring the art and science of human connection.

Born in Addis Ababa to expatriate Indian parents, the science and practice of medicine may have been Verghese’s calling as a young medical student in Ethiopia and later in Madras, India, but it has been through the written word that Verghese has garnered widespread fame and reached the largest audiences.

His first book, My Own Country: A Doctor’s Story, is a memoir that chronicles his experience as a physician in the American heartland at the front lines of the AIDS epidemic, and was a 1994 National Book Critics Circle Award Finalist and a Time Best Book of the Year.

“The language of science didn’t begin to capture the heartache of those families and the tragic nature of the story I was living through,” says Verghese, “and so that was when I became a writer. Ever since, my stance as a writer has always been with a very medical lens.”

His following work of nonfiction, The Tennis Partner, published a few years later, was a New York Times Notable Book, and his first novel, the critically acclaimed Cutting for Stone (2009), spent a whopping 117 weeks on the paperback fiction list.

His most recent novel, The Covenant of Water, published this past May (2023), received glowing reviews from Oprah Winfrey and shot straight to the top of the hardcover fiction list in the first week, cementing

Verghese’s expertise both as physician and master of the written word.

To Verghese, his twin endeavors of science and storytelling are so fundamentally intertwined that they are nearly indistinguishable. Heralded in the medical community for bringing empathy and healing to the technology of modern medicine— viewing it not just as science but as a calling based on human connection and personal narrative—Verghese will also be awareded the 2023 Writer in the World Prize at the Sun Valley Writers’ Conference this July, due to his illumination of “the profound link between healing, the humanities and storytelling.”

“Medicine, in its own way, really needs to be imaginative,” Verghese says. “You have to really put yourself in the patient’s shoes and try to reconcile the story that they are telling you with your own repertoire of stories and medical history.”

“We seem to forget, but stories are the way we instruct our children from their very earliest days,” says Verghese, who believes that stories help shape us and are just as vital as an adult as they are when we are young.

“Stories have that magical quality of situating us in the world. They also are the only thing that I know that allows us to truly steal time,” says Verghese. “You enter the imaginative world of the story and, although the writer provides the words on the page, you, as the reader, have to bring your imagination. And with this, you enter a world where many generations go by, and, sometimes, even centuries go by. But when you’re done, it’s still Tuesday. That feeling of capturing time is one of the most beautiful things about stories.”

Good fortune is with each of us this year because we, as readers, can now enjoy the lush and exotic geography, mystical scenes, and deeply felt characters spun across the page by Verghese in The Covenant of Water—an 84-chapter saga spanning three generations of family in Kerala, along South India’s Malabar Coast.

The novel explores themes of love and betrayal, medicine and ordinary miracles, the molding of character and the passage of time as one family struggles to come to terms with a peculiar affliction with often devastating results and sometimes miraculous outcomes. ï

Abraham Verghese will be awarded the 2023 Writer in the World Prize at the Sun Valley Writers’ Conference on July 22, 2023.

ABRAHAM VERGHESE: COURTESY SUN VALLEY WRITERS’ CONFERENCE / BARBI REED

2023 SUMMER GALLERY B UZZ

The Sun Valley area boasts a diverse and cosmopolitan art community. Here is a sampling of what’s in store at galleries this summer and fall.

JUNE EXHIBITIONS

GAIL SEVERN GALLERY

JUNE / GROUP SHOW – “IN BLOOM”

‘In Bloom’, celebrates Spring and the splendor of flora’s vibrant palette. The exhibition features different artists’ interpretations of botanicals across various mediums. This selection of artwork serves to illustrate the sensuous beauty of flowers, as well as the symbolism found within the cyclical nature of life. In her prints, Hung Liu adopts and interprets traditional Chinese images of flowers, incorporating their historical significance. Maggie Shafran reminds us of our own impermanence with her translation of flowers, which she calls, “Little Pieces of Death.” Laura McPhee’s large-format photography captures the beauty of Idaho wildflowers, while exploring the intersection of man and nature. Kathy Moss’s large-scale paintings serve as archetypes, relying on the psychological associations we assign to flowers. Works on a more intimate scale will also be featured, such as beeswax collages by Kenna Moser and chiaroscuro tulips by Michael Gregory. Additional artists include Betsy Margolius, Diane Andrews Hall, Jenny Abell, Sheila Gardner, among others.

STEJER STUDIO

JUNE / “CREATING ART WITH FIRE”

Jodie Stejer is an encaustic artist working from her Wood River Valley studio in downtown Ketchum: applying a fired torch to fuse together beeswax, resin and pigment to create abstract art. “As a commission artist, I am fortunate to paint many different styles, from photo encaustics, landscapes and abstracts to skulls and old wooden skis,” says Stejer. “It’s an honor for me to work directly with my collectors to create a unique piece for their homes.” Currently booking commissions for next April, 2024. Stejer Studio will feature opening receptions during the Gallery Walk evenings this summer on July 8, August 5 and September 2, with additional opening receptions during the Artist Studio Tour on August 10 and 20.

GAIL SEVERN GALLERY

JUNE / GROUP SHOW – “HONORING OUR LANDSCAPE”

This group exhibition explores the artistic interpretation of our lands by nationally renowned painters, photographers, and sculptors. This includes work by Victoria Adams, whose carefully rendered oils recall the majesty and unadulterated landscapes of the Hudson River School. James Cook’s thickly painted oils are an epic and expressive interpretation of our landscapes, many of which depict the Sawtooths and surrounding mountain ranges. Michael Gregory’s iconic paintings of barns and homesteads reflect on the beauty of isolation found in the Western American landscape. Additional artists featured in the show include Theodore Waddell, Sheila Gardner, Berkeley Hoerr, Diane Andrews Hall, Pamela DeTuncq, among others.

GILMAN CONTEMPORARY

JUNE 13 – JULY 25 / SOLO EXHIBITION: RODNEY SMITH

Celebrating photographer Rodney Smith’s 45-year career and the J. Paul Getty Museum’s newly published book celebrating Smith’s life, Gilman Con-

“546” by Kathy Moss at Gail Severn Gallery, oil on linen, 84 in. x 56 in.

temporary presents, Rodney Smith Retrospective: Leap of Faith, June 13 –July 25. Paul Martineau, curator of photographs at the J. Paul Getty Museum, will be in attendance to meet with collectors and sign books at the gallery July 7 during the opening reception of the exhibition. Rodney Smith (19472016) was a renowned New York-based photographer who in the tradition of Avedon, Penn and William Klein, transcended fashion photography into fine art. Rodney Smith developed a unique style balancing technical mastery and a desire to portray the best of humanity. Long acclaimed for his iconic images that combine portraiture and landscape, Smith created enchanted worlds full of subtle contradictions and surprises. Using only film and light, his unretouched, dream-like images are matched in quality by the craft and physical beauty of his prints. He was a creator who cared deeply about sharing his vision of the world with humor, grace, and optimism. Smith’s work continues to be shown at museums and galleries worldwide. In 2021 the J. Paul Getty Museum acquired ten of his photographs for their permanent collection. In May of 2023 Getty Publications will release, Rodney Smith: A Leap of Faith, a collection of essays and photographs compiled by Paul Martieau, curator of photographs at the J. Paul Getty Museum, with contributions by Rebecca A. Snef and Leslie Smolan, and an introduction by Graydon Carter.

GAIL SEVERN GALLERY

JUNE / GROUP SHOW – “COLOR VI”

This group exhibition is composed of paintings, photographs, works on paper, and sculpture. This selection of artwork demonstrates the powerful response that color can elicit from the viewer. Linda Christensen layers pat-

tern and color to set the stage for her figurative paintings. Bean Finneran’s hand -olled ceramic sculptures are bright in color and playful in form. Rana Rochat’s encaustic works on paper use multiple layers of pigmented wax to create staggering depth and saturation. Gary Komarin uses his own iconography and bright pops of color to create post-painterly abstractions. Other featured artists include Cole Morgan, Allison Stewart, Jun Kaneko, Lisa Kokin, Lynda Lowe, Marcia Myers, among others.

GILMAN CONTEMPORARY

JUNE 13 – JULY 25 / SOLO EXHIBITION:

MAYME KRATZ – “SHADOW & SUBSTANCE”

We are pleased to present Arizona artist Mayme Kratz’s mixed-media exhibition, “Shadow and Substance,” which will run June 13 – July 25. Kratz finds inspiration in Arizona’s harsh desert climate, collecting found organic materials such as bone fragments, poppy pods, grasses, and flowers which she collects on long hikes in the surrounding area of her home and even on the train tracks behind her studio. She arranges this matter in circles, constellations, nests and other forms before suspending it in resin against a painted panel. Materiality is both heightened and diminished as the earthen matter transforms into a micro or macro ecosystem of its own. The process is time-consuming, toxic and difficult, but, for her, this act of preservation is an ode to the cyclical pattern of nature. “With my art, I celebrate the endless cycles of change and rebirth,” she explains. “I have great reverence for the natural world.” With this new series of works, Kratz pushes herself both artistically and physically to create pieces that celebrate our earth by changing how we experience the flora and fauna that surround us every day. When Kratz reminds us to pay attention to what is often overlooked, she evokes feelings of beauty, memory and longing. Her work invites us to pause and celebrate nature, and to not take even the most prolific weed for granted. Beauty is truly in the eye of the observer.

“Don Jumping Over Hay Roll” by Rodney Smith at Gilman Contemporary, archival pigment photograph, available in three sizes (from 20 in., 40 in. and 58 in.)

“It’s a Big World” by Jodie Stejer at Stejer Studio, encaustic, 42” diameter

JULY/AUGUST EXHIBITIONS

KNEELAND GALLERY

JULY / GROUP SHOW: JENNIFER LOWE, CHRISTOPHER BROWN, JEAN RICHARDSON

ARTIST’S RECEPTION: FRIDAY, JULY 7, 5-7:30 P.M.

Jennifer Lowe has combined the landscapes, animals and people of her native Montana with a unique approach to painting. Using the untraditional medium of livestock marker, which she applies with both her fingers and a brush. Lowe’s work embodies a sense of play or wonder attributable to her acute awareness and love of nature and her surroundings. Christopher Brown is a painter and printmaker known for his affinity for repeated forms, often figurative and dipping into abstraction. His works are in major collections, including the Museum of Modern Art and the De Young museums in San Francisco; the Walker Art Center of Minneapolis; the Metropolitan Museum of New York; the Modern Art Museum of Fort Worth; and many private collections. Jean Richardson is best known for her large, abstract paintings of horses using a palette of jewel tones and deep earthen hues. Using the contemporary vocabulary of modern painting, Richardson finds deep connections to the myth of the frontier West.

GAIL SEVERN GALLERY

JULY – AUGUST / SOLO EXHIBITION: TOM HAMMICK

Painter and printmaker, Tom Hammick, presents his first ever solo exhibition at Gail Severn Gallery with recent work in both mediums. All prints are individually hand-made by the artist in small editions, through traditional relief or intaglio processes. His exceptional skill in the medium is evident in the multitude of colors he incorporates, as well as the magnificent scale of certain works. Hammick’s painting practice is symbiotically linked to that of his printing, both relying on the dynamic tension between positive and negative space. He approaches his paintings with confidence and puts intention

behind each mark, carving into canvas like he would a woodblock. Hammick illustrates visionary scenes, often with ambiguous narratives including mysterious figures. These emotive panoramas range from dreamy, romantic and heroic, to lonely, contemplative and nostalgic, with a strong sense of longing. Hammick invites the viewer on what feels like a fantastic journey home.

GILMAN CONTEMPORARY

JULY 27 – AUGUST 22 / SOLO EXHIBITION: KELLY ORDING

Kelly Ording’s works explore the fine line between minimalism and representation. Interested in the tonal and textural possibilities of a surface, Ording often begins her compositions by hand-dyeing paper or canvas, creating an element of surprise and playfulness that offsets the mathematical rigor and precision of her use of bold color and line. Central to her work is the interplay of radiating color, unfolding shapes, and patterns. Ording often uses the word “meditation” to describe the act of line-making, where time for her moves in a poetic manner. The repetition becomes its own way of marking time and thus marking the human experience. Dynamic in nature, her paintings can be considered a vehicle to explore color theory, where overlapping patterns evolve and release tones. The balance of her compositions allows you to explore the emotive qualities of color.

GAIL SEVERN GALLERY

JULY – AUGUST / SOLO EXHIBITION: JUN KANEKO

This major exhibition features glazed and Raku-fired ceramic by internationally renowned sculptor, Jun Kaneko. His initial start as a painter is evident in his sculpture, where monolithic ceramic “Dangos” (the Japanese word for dumpling) become three-dimensional, inflated canvases. His graphic, yet painterly, lines and dots are analogous with the Japanese Shinto concept of the “Ma,” which loosely translates into “attachment through space.” Through intentional repetition of brushstrokes and motifs, Kaneko creates a kind of abstract imagery that is recognizable and uniquely his. Kaneko’s work is in more than 100 museum collections and institutions around the world.

“Sitting Bull” by Andy Warhol at Broschofsky Galleries, screen print, 36 in. x 36 in. “Untitled (Dango)” by Jun Kaneko at Gail Severn Gallery, handbuilt and glazed ceramic, 25.75 in. x 21 in.

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Since 1973, Sun Valley Magazine has remained the trusted resource for passionate residents and curious newcomers. We continue to deliver the most sought-after demographics in the state of Idaho:

AUGUST/SEPTEMBER EXHIBITIONS

GAIL SEVERN GALLERY

AUGUST / SOLO EXHIBITION: KATHY MOSS

Creating her own gesso and paint bodies from Renaissance recipes, Kathy Moss depicts botanicals as mysterious archetypes in her work. Keenly aware of the suggestiveness and psychological meaning attached to flowers, they address issues of power, solipsism, and hierarchies. Traditionally working in a monochromatic neutral palette, Moss decisively introduces subtle hints of color in this new series of work. This solo exhibition will feature large-scale oil paintings as well as smaller works on paper.

KNEELAND GALLERY

AUGUST / 32ND ANNUAL PLEIN AIR EXHIBITION

ARTISTS’ RECEPTION: FRIDAY AUGUST 4, 5-7;30 P.M.

Featuring: STEVEN LEE ADAMS, OVANES BERBERIAN, JACK BRAMAN, JOHN HOREJS, SHANNA KUNZ, CALEB MEYER, ROBERT MOORE, SILAS THOMPSON AND BART WALKER. En plein air is a French expression meaning “in the open air” and refers to the act of painting outdoors with the artist’s subject in full view. Plein-air artists capture the spirit and essence of a landscape or subject by incorporating natural light, color and movement into their works. Kneeland Gallery’s exciting annual plein-air event allows you to get involved in a variety of fun activities involving 9 of our premier plein-air artists. First and foremost, we encourage you to interact with the paintersthey really do love the attention! Attend a variety of events in addition to the paintout, including a plein-air workshop with LORI MCNEE , sponsored by Royal Talens North America, a quick draw, silent auction and gallery walk. But, most of all, become a collector. There is no better way to support these hard-working artists than to add a painting to your collection! While the artwork represents a mix of subject matter and styles, all the paintings off er a true sense of place and your own meaningful remembrance of our

beautiful surroundings. The event spans the week beginning August 1. For a full schedule, contact the gallery or visit kneelandgallery.com.

GILMAN CONTEMPORARY

AUGUST 7 – SEPTEMBER 2 / SOLO EXHIBITION: CARMEN MCNALL California-based artist Carmen McNall’s paintings are punctuated by deep woodcuts creating a balance between textured patterns and stretches of pure pigment. By combining painting with added woodcarving techniques, the paintings are not just rich in color, but embody the idea of “handcrafted, “ a theme that is central in her work through both process and subject matter as hands play a recurring role. The faceless figures in McNall’s work resemble Goddess-like muses as they rest in dynamic yet eff ortless poses, each one embodying strength, confidence, and wisdom. The figures are adorned with a novel blend of symbolic patterns and mark making. They rest within their own elements, surrounded by a complex yet tranquil interior landscape that inhabits both ancient and futuristic realms. Through this work, McNall explores the body as a vessel, a container that carries us through life, using both literal vessels such as vases and containers, as well as human forms. She investigates all that is held within us: memories, tension, energy, healing properties, intuition and how these manifest into movement.

GAIL SEVERN GALLERY

SEPTEMBER 2023 / SOLO EXHIBITIONS: VARIOUS ARTISTS

JUN KANEKO & KIKI SMITH — A selection of artwork by Jun Kaneko will remain on view through September, in a two-person exhibition with Kiki Smith. The show will feature Kiki Smith’s Jacquard tapestries depicting diff erent animals in a mystical and spiritual light. The work by both artists engages in an interesting dialogue involving texture and scale, as well as surface and three dimensionality. LINDA CHRISTENSEN — Linda Christensen catches people who are in a “pensive place.” This may just be a moment, but something that we all do without being aware. Christensen finds the magic in seeing the humanness in others as they turn inward, reflective but uncriti-

“Hens on the Loose” by Lori McNee at Kneeland Gallery, oil on canvas, 24 in. x 48 in.

cal. It is this emotional valency that the artist seeks to detect and transmit on canvas. With this selection of new and recent work, Christensen captures our intimate knowledge of the solitude of the self. ROBERT MCCAULEY —

A solo exhibition featuring new paintings by Robert McCauley, inspired by Native American artifact. Though his style is rooted in the tradition of 19th century American Romanticism, his narratives are contemporary, timely and relevant. McCauley addresses themes and issues of cultures in collision, environmental ethics, and humankind’s impact on other species.

ALL SUMMER

STEJER STUDIO

JUNE – SEPTEMBER / “CREATING ART WITH FIRE”

Jodie Stejer is an encaustic artist working from her Wood River Valley studio in downtown Ketchum: applying a fired torch to fuse together beeswax, resin and pigment to create abstract art. “As a commission artist, I am fortunate to paint many different styles, from photo encaustics, landscapes and abstracts to skulls and old wooden skis,” says Stejer. “It’s an honor for me to work directly with my collectors to create a unique piece for their homes.” Currently booking commissions for next April, 2024. Stejer Studio will feature opening receptions during the Gallery Walk evenings this summer on July 7, August 4 and September 1, with additional opening receptions during the Artist Studio Tour in August.

WOOD RIVER FINE ARTS

JUNE – SEPTEMBER / VARIOUS ARTISTS

Entering its twelfth year, Wood River Fine Arts is pleased to continue its presence in Ketchum and Sun Valley, serving clients across the United States and Canada with major sculpture installations and important paintings for collectors seeking the finest in Western art. The gallery proudly represents the following artists: Christopher Blossom, George Carlson, Jill Carver, G. Russell Case, Tim Cherry, Len Chmiel, Jeremy Lipking, Lars Jonsson, Richard Loffler, James Morgan, John Moyers, Terri Kelly Moyers, Ralph Oberg, Dan Ostermiller, Daniel W. Pinkham, Grant Redden, CAA, Cary Schwarz, TCAA, Tim Shinabarger, Amy Sidrane, Kathryn Stats, Skip Whitcomb, and Wayne Wolfe Wood River Fine Arts is an online gallery with private in-person appointments available on request for visitors to and residents of the Wood River Valley. The work of represented artists can be viewed at www.woodriverfinearts.com. For more information contact owners Tom Bassett and Sandy Gregorak at (208) 928-7728 or email tom@woodriverfinearts.com.

MYRIAM ESTHER FINE ART GALLERY

JUNE – SEPTEMBER

Come and explore new pieces added to the “Snow” and “Defiance” collections. The “Snow” collection is inspired by the beautiful wildlife in Sun Valley. The “Defiance” collection is often inspired by history. Myriam Esther was born and grew up in Europe; therefore, she is always amazed, fascinated, and often surprised by the discovery of particularly important historical, less known characters that shaped the American history. They touch and inspire her profoundly. 3% of the profit goes to charities in Idaho for endangered species or animals or environment. 3% of the profit of specific artworks goes to charities for children, education, and other charities.

BROSCHOFSKY GALLERIES

JUNE – SEPTEMBER / GROUP SHOW – “BEST OF THE WEST”

Best of the West is a group show of gallery artists with an array of subjects

and interpretations of the American West, historical through contemporary. Displaying vintage photographs from Edward S. Curtis’ 30-year project “The North American Indian” (1898 – 1928) across the board to Western pop works from Andy Warhol’s “Cowboys and Indians” series (1986). Other artist works include David Yarrow’s large-scale photographic works that often evoke a feeling of curiosity, laughter and awe with their spectacular backgrounds, recognizable models, eccentric Western characters and trained animals. Also highlighting recent acquisitions of paintings by Russell Chatham. In viewing a Chatham painting one typically gets a feeling of recognition of place. What is actually revealed is a feeling, a sense of emotion that goes deeper than the visual mind. Other works will be on display by gallery artists: Bill Barrett, Emil Bisttram, Rudi Broschofsky, Jim Dine, Joellyn Duesberry, Ewoud de Groot, William Matthews, Joan Mitchell, Ken Peloke, Billy Schenck, Theodore Villa, Russell Young and more.

HEMMINGS GALLERY

JULY – SEPTEMBER / SALLY KING BENEDICT

ARTIST’S RECEPTION: FRIDAY, JULY 7, 5-7:30 P.M.

Hemmings Gallery opened in October of 2022 at 340 Walnut Ave—the former location of Aurobora. Owner Edward Hemmings grew up in Ketchum and also owns Raven Art Services, an art handling & installation business.

Starting in July, the gallery will host a solo exhibition with the fabulous artist, Sally King Benedict, who recently moved to Ketchum. For the past fifteen years, Benedict has built an impressive following with major solo shows in Atlanta, Charleston & New York. Known for both her figurative and abstract work, she has been featured in Elle Decor, House Beautiful, Domino and Southern Living. Benedict’s exuberant style is unmistakable and showcases her expert use of color and dynamic brushwork. The opening night reception will be Friday, July 7 from 5-7:30 p.m.

“Sun Valley Girl” by Myriam Esther at Myriam Esther Fine Art Gallery, acrylic on canvas, 60 in. x 48 in.

MAP TO THE GALLERIES

1) H emmings Gallery 208.254.1097

2) B oulder Mountain Clay and Art Gallery 208.726.0773

3) B roschofsky Galleries 208.726.4950

4) Davies-Reid 208.726.3453

5) Frederic Boloix Fine Arts 208.726.8810

6) Friesen + Lantz Fine Art 208.726.4174

7) G ail Severn Gallery 208.726.5079

8) G ilman Contemporary 208.726.7585

9) S tejer Studio 509.993.1213

10) K neeland Gallery 208.726.5512

11) O CHI Gallery 208.726.8746

12) S un Valley Museum of Art 208.726.9491

13) Wood River Fine Arts 208.928.7728

14) Myriam Esther Fine Art Gallery 208.450.2066

2023 GALLERY WALKS

Enjoy free evenings of art viewing and conversation at the Sun Valley Gallery Association’s “Gallery Walks.” Galleries are open on these Fridays from 5-7:30 p.m. with artists often in attendance.

July 7, August 4, September 1, December 29

54th Annual Sun Valley Arts & Crafts Festival

Atkinson Park, Ketchum

August 11-13, 2023

132 Professional Artists

sunvalleyartsandcraftsfestival.com

Presented By

Idaho’s Best Kept Secret

With nearly 200,000 cases produced annually, the gem state’s wine country gains popularity

BY CLAUDIA WEATHERMON

The unusually long, wet spring has produced a restlessness for Idaho wine growers who—like their clientele—are more than ready for patio season to begin.

While most wineries have lovely indoor tasting rooms open year-round, the outdoor experience brings the magic to Idaho’s thriving wine industry, especially in the southwest part of the state. From the proper perch, you take

in verdant vistas with row crops, orchards and vineyards gently curving down Canyon County’s Sunnyslope to the meandering Snake River. In the distance, the brush-dotted foothills of the Owyhee Mountains draw a rugged line across the horizon’s haze.

The “granddaddy” of Idaho wineries, Ste. Chappelle, is here, bottling since 1975, as the first post-Prohibition winery to open

in Idaho. One of its recent standouts is the 2020 Panoramic Chardonnay, which received a Platinum rating with 91 points (Great Northwest Wines). Ste. Chappelle grows the most grapes and produces the most wine of any winery in the state.

There are about 20 neighboring wineries within 10 minutes of Ste. Chappelle that comprise the Sunnyslope Wine Trail. Drive

a gravelly road deeper into the hillside, and you come across Hells Canyon Winery, which has given rise to the second generation of the family business under the label Zhoo Zhoo.

“The Zhoo Zhoo sisters—Bijou, Jocelyn and I—wanted to diversify our family wine business and make a product geared toward women,” explains Hadley Robertson. The popularity of Idaho wine country has walked right up to their country lane. “It used to be that people rarely came by, and if they did wander in, my dad would just come up from the field to help them. Now we are open year-round.”

Robertson suggests Sunny Hunny, a Riesling, with Pad Thai or shrimp salad. For heartier fare like Korean-style short ribs, she’d serve Hells Canyon LAVA/100 Atomic (Syrah).

Just six minutes west as you travel along Apricot, Pear and Plum lanes is Hat Ranch Winery, which also bottles as Vale Wine Co. The most recent accolade for founder and winemaker Tim Harless is the 2019 Syrah, which earned double gold at the 2022 Cascadia Wine Competition. The Hat Ranch Winery name nods to Harless’ cattle ranching forbearers; the brand-style logo is from stationery found at the original homestead.

Harless is on-site most days and happily breaks from chores to converse with patrons. He weaves a fascinating tale of how he soared as a military and commercial pilot to settle into the earthy science of viticulture. Wines to try under the Hat Ranch label include the 2020 Semillon, which earned a double gold, and its 2018 Rivaura Vineyard Cabernet Franc, made with grapes from Idaho’s more northerly LewisClark Valley AVA. Under the Vale label, you’ll find fantastic Viogniers and Syrahs.

Newer to Idaho’s wine scene is the arrival of urban wineries and tasting rooms. Don’t

let the term urban scare you away, though. A string of at least 10 venues is located along the scenic Boise River and its popular Greenbelt—a tree-lined path where strollers, bikers and joggers wind their way past pocket parks, bistros and even a surf park. It’s where you’ll find the popular Telaya Winery, established by Earl and Carrie Sullivan, who left careers in pharmaceutical and vet medicine, respectively, to pour their love of nature into a family business.

“Making something with your own hands, being able to have a product that you created, teaching our kids the value of hard work—it just kind of all worked together and has grown quickly,” says Earl Sullivan. Telaya is an amalgam of the Sullivans’ favorite places— the Teton Mountains along Idaho’s eastern border and the beach (“playa” in Spanish). The modern, glass-front building offers spectacular river views and a welcoming outdoor patio. As busy as the winery is, the winemaking operation provides a backdrop for wine club tastings and tours, with nearly 90% of its product shipped to members

28 states.

in

Above, left: Meredith Smith and Ste Chapelle have helped put Idaho on the vintner’s map. Above: The NV Love Idaho Red Blend is full of wild berry and violet aromas with black cherry, plum and spice flavors on the palate. This red has medium acidity and a smooth finish.

The Sullivans recently acquired another rural production facility in the Sunnyslope area. “We’re calling it Telaya West. It won’t be a regular tasting room, but we’ll be doing a series of events starting with four concerts.”

The ‘local by local’ movement keeps Sullivan enthusiastic about Idaho’s wine industry. “We don’t have the huge acreages of other wine areas—but our quality is just so good. In a smaller area, growers and producers work really well together to raise the bar, and that helps everyone.”

Sullivan says he has a close relationship with his growers in Idaho and Washington, with dedicated rows so he can track quality and conditions year after year. He can visit all the grapes before they’re harvested and even has a say about what day and time they’ll be cut from the vine. That care and attention have earned awards and a big following for Telaya wines.

1,300 acres of planted wine grapes

3 American Viticulture Areas (AVAs):

• Snake River Valley

• Eagle Foothills

• Lewis-Clark Valley

70 Idaho wineries

75+ new acres being planted in 2023 (6% increase)

Sources: Idaho Wine Commission, VinePair 2020

Rolling Hills Vineyard was named 2023 “Winery to Watch” by Great Northwest Wine. The vineyard is located within the Eagle Hills AVA, with the tasting room in Garden City. The Pasculli family earned a double Platinum—96 points for their 2018 Estate Cab Franc (Snake River AVA). They purchased a neglected patch of vines in 2016. In just a few years, they won 21 awards at nine competitions, including for their Petit Verdot, Tempranillo and a Rose’.

The Sullivans are rapidly increasing production to prevent sell-outs, increasing from 4,350 cases in 2021 to more than 10,850 in 2022. Accolades include their 2018 Syrah, which won Best of Show at the Cascadia International Wine Competition.

Neighbors to Telaya in the Garden City urban tasting corridor are Rolling Hills, Cinder, Coiled, Par Terre and Potter Wines, to name a few. Whether it’s a tasting room experience or an estate vineyard you’re after, it’s time to explore the vast variety of southwest Idaho wine country and its creative winemakers. ï

Above: Idaho has over 1,600 acres of wine vineyards offering multiple winemaking varieties. Right: Rolling Hills Vineyard won two platinum awards in the 2022 Great Northwest Wine Platinum challenge--the 2019 Tempranillo (Double Platinum) and the 2018 Mascot Red Blend (Platinum).

DININGAROUND TOWN

A fast guide to the Valley’s best eateries

BREAKFAST & CAFES

BIG BELLY DELI

Homemade soups, salads, and a variety of great sandwiches. Serving the Valley for over 15 years and rated #1 Best Sandwich Deli. Let us prove it, and your belly will thank you.

171 N. Main St., Hailey. 208.788.2411.

BIGWOOD BREAD

Visit us at one of our spectacular locations, both featuring beautiful outdoor views, fantastic food and outstanding service. Fresh and homemade is how we do it!

271 Northwood Way, Ketchum. 208.726.2035.

BLACK OWL CAFÉ

Locally roasted, custom blended coffee brewed to perfection. Large selection of loose-leaf tea. Home-baked scones, muffins and breads. Breakfast and lunch.

208 N. River St., Hailey. 208.928.6200.

CAFÉ DELLA

Café, bakery, and market located in the heart of Hailey. Our market offers prepared dinners to-go, housemade provisions, grocery essentials, local produce, dairy, meats, fish, beer and wine. Stop in to shop our daily “Dinner Tonight” offerings and more, or order from our weekly dinner and grocery menu online for Friday pickup or FREE delivery.

103 S. Main St., Hailey. 208.913.0263.

GALENA LODGE

The perfect place for a summer or winter outing. Enjoy one of the carefully maintained trail loops (on foot or bike in the summer, or on Nordic skis when the snow flies), before sitting down for a handcrafted lunch using the freshest seasonal ingredients. Call or check their website for special dinner events and offerings, like their Galena Full Moon Dinners.

15187 State Hwy. 75, Ketchum. 208.726.4010.

GLOW LIVE FOOD CAFÉ

Glow is a plant-based and organic café and health food store. Glow specializes in delicious, plantbased foods, emphasizing locally grown produce. 380 Washington Ave. #105, Ketchum. 208.725.0314.

GRETCHEN’S

Adjacent to the Sun Valley Lodge lobby, Gretchen’s Restaurant welcomes you with a relaxing indoor/ outdoor feel with easy access for Terrace dining all day long. Enjoy breakfast, lunch or dinner and full bar service.

Sun Valley Lodge. 208.622.2144.

HAILEY COFFEE COMPANY

Our café serves delicious gourmet espresso drinks and fresh-baked goods from our on-site bakery. All of our coffees are fresh roasted in Hailey and our baked goods are served fresh from the oven.

219 S. Main St., Hailey. 208.788.8482.

611 Sun Valley Rd., Ketchum. 208.928.7955

HANK & SYLVIE’S

We are a bakery, floral design and gift shop offering fresh-baked sweets, custom cakes, flower arrangements, and a large array of unique gifts. 471 N. Leadville, Ketchum, 208.726.0115; and 91 E. Croy St., Hailey, 208.928.4088.

JAVA COFFEE AND CAFÉ

Truly a great coffeehouse! Baking from scratch daily. Serving the finest Fair Trade and organic coffees. Sound like a local and order the “Dirty Hippie Burrito” and a “Bowl of Soul.” 191 4th St. W., Ketchum, 208.726.2882; 111 N. 1st Ave., Hailey, 208.788.2297.

JERSEY GIRL

Best sandwiches in town! Jersey Girl is home of Trenton, New Jersey-famous porkroll, egg and cheese sandwich, the locals favorite “Bacado” (house roasted turkey, bacon, Swiss, avocado), a bangin’ lineup of homemade soups and a mean biscuits and gravy. 14 E. Croy St., Hailey. 208.788.8844.

KONDITOREI

Lunch dishes range from pumpkin spaetzle with sausage and apples to roasted chicken crepes with spinach and spicy Liptauer cheese. The café offers a full complement of artisanal coffee and hot chocolate drinks, plus house-baked European pastries.

Sun Valley Resort, 208.622.2235.

The perfect Sun Valley dish—lamb, crispy onions, chimichurri sauce—will satisfy all your taste buds.

MAUDE’S COFFEE & CLOTHES

Maude’s is a coffee shop and a clothing store that serves traditional espresso, small eats, and is a purveyor of unique vintage contemporary clothing for women and men. The husband and wife team, Jacob and Tara, who started Maude’s, believe in products made with integrity and intention.

391 Walnut Ave., Ketchum. 208.726.6413.

NOURISHME

Julie Johnson opened NourishMe in June 2010 in order to bring her love of nutrition and local food to the community in which she lived. This light-filled store on Main Street in Ketchum features everything from seasonal produce and bulk seeds, nuts and fruits, to a wide variety of supplements, homemade sandwiches, salads and soups, wellness products, gluten-free foods and organic cosmetics.

151 Main St., Ketchum. 208.928.7604.

RASBERRYS

Callie and Maeme Rasberry believe all the senses must be involved in meal preparation; therefore, the menu is eclectic, just like the chefs, with dishes prepared with fresh local ingredients when available and their own take on comfort and ethnic food.

411 Building, 5th St., Ketchum. 208.726.0606.

SMILEY CREEK LODGE

Under new ownership, Smiley Creek Lodge is located near the headwaters of the Salmon River at the top of the Sawtooth Valley, 37 miles north of Ketchum/Sun Valley. A full restaurant serves delicious homestyle food for breakfast, lunch and dinner, and a newly renovated market features fresh and wholesome take-away meals and provisions. The connecting retail store is small, but well-stocked with provisions and gear for all your outdoor adventures.

16546 N. Hwy. 75, Sawtooth City (over Galena Summit). smileycreeklodge.com.

THE KNEADERY

The Kneadery combines wholesome fresh food with a rustic Idaho atmosphere. All meals start with the freshest ingredients: locally baked organic breads, farm-fresh, cage-free eggs, seasonal fruit and top-quality meats.

260 Leadville Ave. North, Ketchum. 208.726.9462.

DELIS ATKINSONS’ MARKETS

Atkinsons’ Markets, serving you and your family at our three locations in the Wood River Valley with deli sandwiches made to order, hot soups, grab-

and-go meals and desserts, and a full deli case of freshly made main dishes and sides.

451 E. 4th St., Ketchum, 208.726.2681; 93 E. Croy St., Hailey, 208.788.2294; 757 N. Main St., Bellevue, 208.788.7788.

JOHNNY G’S SUB SHACK

Serving the best subs in the Great State of Idaho! Family owned and operated since 1998, and serving up hot subs like the popular “5B” (turkey, bacon, cream cheese, mayo, lettuce, tomato) or the “Mama Sass’s Meatball” (Italian meatballs, marinara, parmesan). Homemade soups, salads, smoothies and build-your-own round out a solid menu of delicious sandwiches.

371 Washington Ave., Ketchum. 208.725.7827.

WRAPCITY

Wrapcity serves up creative wraps and salads, homemade soups, and unique quesadillas. Wrapcity also serves breakfast wraps all day with special breakfast creations on Saturdays and Sundays. 180 Main St., S., Ketchum. 208.727.6766.

PUBS, GRILLS, & LOUNGES APPLE’S BAR & GRILL

For 33 years, Apple’s Bar & Grill has been a popular spot for lunch and aprés-ski. Apple’s is still the best spot to fuel your body after a long day ripping turns on Baldy—and it’s now open yearround for lunch and dinner! At the base of Baldy near Warm Springs Lodge, the restaurant is known for mouthwatering grub and as the locals’ #1 postski destination. Now also the perfect spot for lunch or dinner during the summer, and available for private events.

205 Picabo St., Ketchum. 208.726.7067.

GRUMPY’S

Grumpy’s is a favorite of locals and visitors alike. We are a little hard to find, but not hard to find out about.

860 Warm Springs Rd., Ketchum. No phone.

LA CAB SPORTS BAR

Enjoy the neighborhood-tavern feel of La Cab Sports Bar while dining on local favorites that include a Buffalo chicken sandwich, jalapeño poppers, Wings, burgers and fish and chips.

107 Hwy. 75, Hailey. 208.788.5048.

LEFTY’S BAR & GRILL

Lefty’s has a great casual dining menu, including killer burgers served on fresh-baked bread, monster hot sandwiches, wings, salads and the house specialty, fresh-cut French fries. And the outdoor deck can’t be beat in the summer!

231 6th St. East, Ketchum. 208.726.2744.

LIMELIGHT LOUNGE

When late afternoon hits, we swing our doors wide open for guests and locals to dig into our friendly après food and drink specials. Our full dinner menu is available evenings in the Lounge, for in-room dining, or take-out. 151 South Main St., Ketchum. 208.726.0888.

MAHONEY’S BAR & GRILL

Mahoney’s offers a full bar, a terrific patio that’s just a short stroll from Bellevue’s Howard Preserve and a tasty menu featuring their famous “Juicy Lucy” cheese-filled, grilled-onion-topped hamburger. 104 S. Main St., Bellevue. 208.788.4449.

POWER HOUSE

Serving locally-raised Wagyu beef burgers, blackened Ahi sandwiches and tacos, hand-cut fries, and organic salads with a wealth of beers on tap. 502 N. Main St., Hailey. 208.788.9184

SAWTOOTH BREWERY

25 taps with beer, wine, cider, and kombucha on tap! Join us for the game on one of our big-screen TV’s. We fill growlers, crowlers, and have kegs, bottles, and cans to go! Two locations—Hailey and Ketchum—with seasonal outdoor seating at both spots. 631 Warm Springs Rd., Ketchum. 208.726.6803; 110 N. River St., Hailey. 208.788.3213.

ROOTS WINE BAR & BOTTLE SHOP

Roots offers a chic and cozy space to explore wine and food. The menu is geared toward lunch and happy hour snacking, with an array of cheese and charcuterie boards, snacks and small plates. 122 S.Main St., Hailey. 208.928.4376.

SCOUT WINE & CHEESE

Scout is a celebration of good wine, good food and community. Their extensive wine list is accompanied by a selection of beer and non-alcoholic beverages, as well as cheese from the U.S. and Europe, cured meat, and thoughtful bar snacks. 360 East Ave., Ketchum. 208.928.4031.

Big Wood Bread

SUN VALLEY WINE CO.

With a brand-new deck that doubles their outdoor space—with both a sunshine-drenched west-facing deck with Baldy views and a partially-shaded deck with Dollar Mountain and Pioneer views, Ketchum’s original wine bar is the place to go for lunch, an afternoon break, happy hour, après ski, after a hike, or to meet up with friends. Owners Crystal and Dexter McKenzie, and Gayle and Jim Phillips, are passionate about wine, carrying over 1,000 bottles of hand-curated wines to satisfy wine enthusiasts of every type—and you won’t want to miss special events and themed dinners and tastings that have become local’s favorites!

360 Leadville Ave., Ketchum. 208.726.2442.

THE CELLAR PUB

From traditional pub fare such as buffalo burgers or fish & chips to original dishes such as our flatiron steak salad, we have something for everyone in your party. We have a full bar and feature a great selection of draft beer and fine wines.

400 Sun Valley Rd., Ketchum. 208.622.3832.

THE SMOKEY BONE BBQ

Featuring award-winning, authentic barbecue right here in Idaho. Featuring Texas-style brisket cooked with applewood smoke, ribs, pulled pork, turkey, chicken, sausage and a selection of mouthwatering sides to fill up any plate.

315 S. Main St., Hailey. 208.788.0772

210 2nd Ave. S., Twin Falls. 208.733.3885

TASTECRAFT

Serving fresh and authentic small bites and sandwiches (and featuring Ro’s Ramen, winter only) along with beer, wine, and craft cocktails made with a variety of champagnes, liqueurs and wine.

117 N. River St., Hailey.

TNT / TAP ROOM

TNT / Tap Room is a craft beer and wine bar focusing on organic, sustainable and biodynamic wines. We’re located in a piece of Ketchum history in the dynamite shed. We have 12 rotating taps of independent craft beer along with bottles and cans as well as a unique and younger approach to wine. We don’t serve food but we welcome and encourage guests to bring in their food of choice. Open Wed.-Sat. 271 Sun Valley Road E., Ketchum.

VILLAGE STATION

Enjoy a wide selection of cocktails and craft beer on tap, as well as a crowd-pleasing menu of classic American favorites: hearty cheeseburgers, chicken wings, pizza and family-style salads. Sun Valley Village, Sun Valley. 208.622.2143.

WARFIELD DISTILLERY & BREWERY

The ever-changing menu brings you the best provisions from across the Northwest in our comfortable neighborhood pub setting. The best summer deck in town with fire pits and rocking chairs for comfort and conversation. 280 N. Main St., Ketchum. 208.726.2739.

MEXICAN/SOUTH AMERICAN BARRIO75 TACO LOUNGE & TEQUILA BAR

Tucked into the edge of downtown Ketchum with patio views of Baldy, Barrio75 offers a lively and decorative take on a beloved culinary duo … tacos and tequila. Every day, they grind organic heirloom

corn, crafting housemade tortillas—the base of everything they do—while paying homage to the traditional street tacos of Mexico and South America. And don’t miss the list of over 40 tequilas, draft beers and wines, and a cocktail menu designed to accentuate the bold and bright flavors of each dish.

211 4th St. E, Ketchum. 208.726.3068.

CHAPALITAS GRILL

A family Mexican restaurant serving authentic dishes, including specialties such as pollo a la chapala, chicken carnitas, and huevos con chorizo.

200 S. Main St., Hailey. 208.928.7306.

DESPO’S

Despo’s is committed to authentic, delicious Mexican dishes that respect your desire for a healthy meal without compromising flavor. 211 4th St. E., Ketchum. 208.726.3068.

KB’S

This cheerful, laid-back burrito joint serves delicious fish tacos and offers a make-your-own burrito, with a choice of 27 fillings.

460 Sun Valley Rd., Ketchum. 208.928.6955; 121 N. Main St., Hailey. 208.788.7217.

LA CABAÑITA MEX

Only one way to put it…best authentic Mexican food in town. The town’s hidden gem that is truly a favorite. 103 S. Main St., Hailey. 208.788.1255 160 W. 5th St., Ketchum. 208.725.5001; 745 N. Main St., Bellevue. 208.928.7550.

LAGO AZUL

Enjoy true Mexican food in downtown Hailey. Pollo rancherito, carne asada and “Sandy” tacos are house specialties not to be missed.

14 W. Croy St., Hailey. 208.578.1700.

SERVA PERUVIAN CUISINE

Serva Peruvian Cuisine is all about simple clean ingredients and inspiring flavor. Step inside and experience a fusion of Peruvian and American food served in a healthy and unique way using the freshest quality ingredients seasonally. Traditional recipes from Rodolfo Serva’s family appear alongside the unique creations of Chef Edgar for an upscale Peruvian dining experience.

200 N. Main St., Ketchum. 208.928.4332.

INDIAN

SAFFRON INDIAN CUISINE

A communal space for relaxed social dining, Saffron draws its inspiration from the vibrancy of the culture and art, as well as the innovative spirit of authentic Indian cuisine. We have traversed the length and breadth of the country to create our distinct

seasonal menu, which will introduce you to unique Indian ingredients, combined with the freshness of produce in fresh, seasonal dishes that are an interpretation of customary Indian sensibilities through international techniques and inspirations. 230 Walnut Ave., Ketchum. 208.913.0609.

MEDITERRANEAN/ITALIAN/PIZZA AROMA RESTAURANT

A culinary collaboration between Juan Flores and Cristina Ceccatelli Cook (founder of Cristina’s restaurant), Aroma serves lunch and dinner weekly, with daily rotating specials featuring fresh, seasonal ingredients and gourmet European specialties. Freshly baked bread accompanies every meal featuring tantalizing flavor combinations and local favorites that include fresh pastas, hand-tossed pizzas, and traditional chicken, steak and fish entrées focused on fresh ingredients and homemade techniques and sauces. AROMA is the place to be for an authentic taste of Europe right here in Idaho!

520 Second St., E., Ketchum. 208.726.6427.

ENOTECA

Ketchum’s newest gastronomic addition, with its upscale pizzeria and wine bar. Enoteca has a plethora of small plates to choose from.

300 N. Main St., Ketchum. 208.928.6280.

IL NASO

Il Naso is special whether you drop by to have a burger and beer at the wine bar, or to relax in the candlelit dining room. The extensive wine list and knowledgeable staff will help you choose just the right bottle to enhance your dining experience.

480 Washington Ave., Ketchum. 208.726.7776.

ROMINNA’S

Since 2013, we have been offering contemporary Italian cuisine prepared to the highest standards. Our premium wine selection includes more than 150 wines to pair with any course.

580 Washington St., Ketchum. 208.726.6961.

SMOKY MOUNTAIN PIZZERIA & GRILL

Our fresh, handcrafted food is what brings people in, and our service is what keeps them coming back for more. We pride ourselves on creating a “nourishing and memorable neighborhood experience that people love!”

200 Sun Valley Rd., Ketchum. 208.622.5625.

WISEGUY PIZZA PIE

Serving New York-style, hand-tossed pizzas topped with whole-milk mozzarella, and baked to perfection in our stone deck ovens. Large selection

of local and regional bottled and draft beer. 460 Sun Valley Rd., Ketchum, 208.726.0737; and 411 N. Main St., Hailey. 208.788.8688.

ASIAN/SUSHI

DANG’S THAI CUISINE

Dang’s offers a wide selection of popular dishes ranging from sushi, green papaya salad, pad thai, and their famous green curry with chicken! Highly recommended as an affordable, flavorful and fun experience in Hailey!

310 N. Main St., Hailey. 208.928.7111.

IDA THAI

Enjoy authentic Thai cuisine in a log cabin with views of Bald Mountain. With specials such as tender slow cooked Lamb Shank served in a Massaman curry, Shrimp in a Ceramic Pot served on top clear vermicelli noodles and Fresh Rolls with house-made peanut sauce, Ida Thai is your place to celebrate an occasion, relax after a day on the mountain or order online.

310 S. Main St., Ketchum. 208.726-7155

MR. DEE

Opening January 2023 and serving Asian fusion, sushi, steak and seafood selections. A full bar with handcrafted cocktails and lounge.

416 N. Main St., Hailey.

RICKSHAW

Serving “ethnic street foods,” inspired by the flavors and foods in locales such as Thailand, Vietnam, China, and Indonesia.

460 N. Washington Ave., Ketchum. 208.726.8481.

SUSHI ON SECOND

Sushi on Second is the Valley’s oldest sushi restaurant. But don’t let age fool you. A talented crew of Sushi Chefs are in the center and delight in creating dishes that are as appetizing to look at as they are to eat. 260 Second St., Ketchum. 208.726.5181.

REGIONAL NORTHWEST COOKBOOK

This cozy place was built in 1932 as a church and then later on was an architect’s office, daycare, butcher shop, BBQ restaurant and bakery. Vita and Burke Smith fell in love with this cute building and decided to give it a new life.

271 7th St. East, Ketchum. 208.720.3260.

DUCHIN LOUNGE

All new and inviting, this legendary lounge serves up cocktails, imported beer and an extensive wine list. Now you can also duck in for a quick bite

from our lounge menu. Sun Valley Lodge. 208.622.2145.

GRILL AT KNOB HILL

The environment at the Knob Hill Inn is casual and comfortable, yet sophisticated, with distinctively Northwest cuisine, and a variety of American and European classics. A top local favorite!

960 N. Main St., Ketchum. 208.726.8004.

KETCHUM GRILL

For nearly 28 years, Ketchum Grill has brought your dining experience to the highest gastronomical level, and the best Idaho has to offer.

520 East Ave., Ketchum. 208.726.4660.

ROUNDHOUSE

Perched midway up Bald Mountain on the River Run side, the Roundhouse is a culinary destination not to be missed. Serviced by the Roundhouse Gondola, the restaurant offers spectacular views of the Valley. Bald Mountain, Ketchum. 208.622.2012.

SUN VALLEY CLUB

Among the most popular places in Sun Valley to eat, drink and relax, the wraparound terrace at Sun Valley Club offers stunning views of Bald Mountain, Dollar Mountain and the golf course (summer) or Nordic trails (winter). The Sun Valley Club brings exciting, contemporary dishes that are focused on local ingredients and big flavors.

1 Trail Creek Rd., Sun Valley. 208.622.2919.

THE COVEY

Offering an intimate ambiance with an always-evolving menu. The relaxed atmosphere is a place to enjoy good friends, fine wine, and delicious meals.

520 Washington Ave., Ketchum. 208.726.3663.

THE PIONEER SALOON

The Pioneer Saloon, renowned for perfectly aged, tender and flavorful beef, is typical of an earlier Idaho where ore wagons rattled down Main Street and business was done with a handshake and a drink. Natural woods, mounted game, and period firearms help recreate an authentic saloon atmosphere.

320 N. Main St., Ketchum. 208.726.3139.

THE RAM

Sun Valley’s original restaurant, The Ram has been warming and welcoming diners since 1937. Travel back in time with the nightly “Heritage

Menu”—a series of historic dishes such as pork tenderloin schnitzel, Hungarian goulash, and the famous Ram fondue.

Located in the Sun Valley Inn. 208.622.2225.

THE SAWTOOTH CLUB

Always busy with a great mix of locals and visitors, The Sawtooth Club offers a unique blend of American steakhouse classics, fresh seafood, wild game, unique pasta dishes and much more. Many entrées are cooked over the live, mesquite-wood fire, and all are prepared with a singular creative flair. The award-winning wine list offers a diverse selection of reasonably priced wines to compliment any of the delicious menu offerings.

231 Main St S, Ketchum, ID 208.726.5233

TUNDRA

TUNDRA Restaurant in Hailey is a hip place serving creative, freshly made food, beer, wine and bubbles. We strive to provide the best service, best food and an unique and fun experience! Reservations can be made online at www.tundrahailey.com.

516 N. Main St., Hailey. 208.928.4121.

VINTAGE

A favorite of the locals, chef Rodrigo Herrera is tuned into the best of the season’s offerings. With a lovely ambiance, both inside and seasonally outside, Vintage offers a dining experience like one would have in France: leisurely, lively, and without pretension.

231 Leadville Ave., Ketchum. 208.726.9595.

weddin stories Cameron + John

A bold celebration of their love

The Sun Valley foliage put on quite a show for husbandand-wife Cameron Ormsby and John Reim’s pictureperfect autumn nuptials. Vibrant red leaves and stunning sun-drenched yellow aspen leaves only made the backdrop of their day even more special. Planned to the nines by Heather Minor Events and team and captured by Hillary Maybery of Sun Valley Portraits, the celebration was perfectly executed, with every detail an intentional, lovely element. The pair said their vows at St. Charles Borromeo Catholic Church in Hailey. The reception took place at Heart Rock Ranch. The bride wore an elegant gown with subtle floral details cascading down the dress. Her hair was designed by Danielle Anspach, and her makeup by Lea Webber of BARE Sun Valley. The outdoor tablescape was topped with bold, vibrant colors that beautifully complemented the fall foliage featuring deep reds, vibrant oranges, and touches of blues, pinks, and yellow, designed by Kurt Botanical. Steven and Becky Ludwig of At Your Place Catering served up a delectable fair, and the aspen-tree-inspired rustic cake was created by Mary Jones of Chocolate Moose. Cameron and John’s wedding day effortlessly embodied glam and rustic elegance in their dreamy fall nuptials.

planner Heather Minor Events flowers Kurt-Botanical catering At Your Place Catering cake The Chocolate Moose hair Danielle Anspach Hair makeup Lea Webber / Bare Sun Valley

McKenna + Peyton

Originally from Bellevue, Washington, McKenna has deep roots in Sun Valley. She spent every birthday for fifteen years in the Wood River Valley and has made the trip at least once a year. “Over the past ten years, Peyton has become part of the tradition of visiting Sun Valley annually with my family and me, and it’s even where we got our two dog babies,” she says. “Some of my favorite memories have happened in Sun Valley, and it was so special to be able to have our wedding there, as well.” Their wedding was held at a private estate in Sun Valley with just thirty-two of their closest friends and families.

McKenna called the intimate celebration “pink mountain chic.” Her florals, designed by Kaitlyn Write of Two Hands Floral, were shades of pink roses with thoughtful accents. The day’s architect, executing every detail, was Chloe Salatino Payne. The couple said their own private vows before making it official in front of friends and family. After the ceremony, the elegant backyard-style reception kicked off with glasses of rosé, ping-pong with custom paddles, yard games, and time soaking up the gorgeous Idaho summer day. McKenna changed from a full-length gown to a shorter two-piece top and skirt perfect for a party. Charlotte Curry was the bride’s makeup artist, and her hair was styled by Mariah Joy Beauty. The tablescapes and seating were McKenna’s favorite detail. The bride and groom sat in vintage peacock chairs, giving a chic and retro vibe to the evening. “We opted to do one long table with the sweetheart seating at the center,” she says. “I’m still in love with how it turned out.” Pink florals accented the tables, with bouquets thoughtfully placed in front of the tables, as well. The rosé was poured, Nathan Hudson of DJN8 Entertainment got the party started, and McKenna and Peyton danced the night away before leaving in a vintage car from the Sun Valley Auto Club.

planning + design Chloe Salatino Payne rentals The Event Sun Valley + Studio 11 catering The Haven deejay DJN8 Entertainment/Nathan Hudson florals Two Hands Floral (Kaitlyn Wright) makeup Charlotte Curry hair Mariah Joy Beauty signage Toaste Shop cookies Dani K Cookies

Laura + Bryan

A grand occasion, from peak to valley

They say love can lift you up, and for newlyweds Laura and Bryan Naden, that meant going up, up, and up to the top of Bald Mountain, 7,700 feet to be exact, to say “I do.” With the late-spring lush green fields below and towering mountains in the distance, guests were surrounded by breathtaking views—and we aren’t just talking about the bride’s showstopper gown! —while the pair made it official. Laura and Bryan tied the knot standing atop Baldy Mountain. Guests were welcomed with a gondola ride that no doubt swept them off their feet. The bride and groom stood underneath a striking floral arch of simple greenery and white florals expertly designed by Bloom Theory Studio. The white and green tones were carried over into the bride and bridesmaids’ bouquets and complemented by deep navy dresses and suits worn by the wedding party. The reception took place outdoors, with the elegant River Run Lodge as the perfect background. Tabletops were adorned with floral centerpieces featuring soft pink and white roses, lush greens, pale pink candles, and cream linens. The celebration was curated by the team at Londyn & Grey Weddings and Events led by executive planner Taylor Holden. Fine art photographer Michelle Beller captured the event from the first kiss to the details. The tone for the party was set by the bride and groom—Laura changed into a swanky gown adorned in beaded tassels that evoked a 1920s flapper style. The night ended with a fireworks show to cap off an incredible celebration.

planning + design Londyn & Grey Events florist Bloom Theory tabletop rentals Casa de Perrin event rentals Studio 11 videography Carli and Beau catering Sun Valley Resort paper design Amber Moon Designs

Carolyn + Zack

Although Carolyn and Zack both reside in San Francisco, when it came time to plan their big day, they knew just the spot: Carolyn’s grandparents’ house in Hailey’s Flying Heart Ranch, which she and her family lovingly call Camp Ferrante. The day was centered around family and friends and the anchoring love and support the couple feel from those they hold dear. (Not to mention a killer dance party led by the Dance Doctors!). Carolyn’s timeless gown was accompanied by a long veil adorned in pink floral lace trim and the wedding colors were pink, rose and blue (to pay homage to the grooms’s alma mater, University of North Carolina). Carolyn’s favorite detail was the rose wall that set the tone for the reception and was expertly decorated by the florist team at Tara Bella Flowers. Late-night pizza was served after guests worked up an appetite dancing the night away—a highlight for the groom. The day was a celebration of love and family. The couple called it a dream. “The wedding was made even more special by the kindness of all of the people of Sun Valley,” Carolyn says. “From the rehearsal dinner at The Sawtooth Club to the staff at the Limelight Hotel, we were truly treated to incredible service with great attention to detail.”

WORDS KATE HULL PHOTOS DEV KHALSA

florist Tara Bella Flowers hair Mane Muse/Natalie Westerhold and Danielle Anspach Hair rentals That’s Entertainment + Studio11 cakes Greg Marsh Cakes videographer J. Ryan Films second photographer Christina Carlson Photography music Dance Doctors Band

Photographer: Hillary Maybery

Georgia + Austin

Georgia and Austin’s late-summer nuptials at a private residence in Heart Rock Ranch was a dreamy Idaho celebration dripped with whimsy. Georgia wore a sleek and flowy gown by Flora Flora Bride with a simple floral crown, designed by Jennifer Behr over her long locks. Her soft-hued bouquets and floral arrangements were designed by Floret Designs, and the day was perfectly orchestrated by wedding coordinator Oliva Brown. Her groom wore a custom suit by Bespoke Custom Clothing and Mezslan shoes. The couple exchanged vows under a floral-covered rectangular arbor with cascading flowers down the side. Her bridesmaids wore bold shades of yellow and green that perfectly complemented the stunning summer day. The groomsmen looked dapper in bolo ties designed by Hells Canyon Bolo Co. After the vows, the couple and guests celebrated al fresco with farm tables topped with vintage glassware and florals. Joy and celebration were the tones at the reception. Guests enjoyed food catered by Catherine Pellegrini and savored sweets and dessert by Hank & Sylvie’s. Then, Georgia changed into her second bridal look, a short and fun dress by Monika Silva of Gauge81 with Miron Crosby white cowgirl boots perfect for dancing the night away. The Idaho sky put on a show with a lovely cotton-candy-colored sunset as the guests celebrated the next chapter for Georgia and Austin.

WORDS KATE HULL PHOTOS KIRSTEN SHULTZ

coordinator Oliva Brown floral Floret Design hair Danielle Anspach Hair bridal hairpiece Jennifer Behr makeup Chantelle Conway wedding dress Flora shoes Jimmy Choo 2nd bridal look Gauge81 grooms suit Bespoke Custom Clothing groomsmen ties Hells Canyon Bolo Co.

PHOTOS: HILLARY MAYBERY

PHOTOS: HILLARY MAYBERY

Megan + Mark

Megan and Mark’s love story began on the Appalachian Trail in 2018. While separately hiking in pursuit of their own Appalachian Trail summit, Megan and Mark crossed paths on the very first day of their adventures. Over the next six months, they walked together through sunshine and storms, for miles and miles, getting to know one another and setting the foundation for a relationship and then marriage—ready to weather whatever should come their way. What blossomed on those days spent hiking through the forested rugged terrain led to a fall elopement in the stunning mountains north of Sun Valley, Idaho. The intimate affair was photographed by Idaho-based elopement and wedding photographer Amanda René Nagy. After a hike to the lakeside destination with towering mountain views in the backdrop, the bride and groom changed into their wedding attire. The groom wore a sleek navy suit, and the bride wore a family heirloom gown with lace overlay details that were flown in from her home in England. Planned by Megan, the picture-perfect destination elopement was the perfect day for these two trail companions turned husband and wife. ï

WORDS KATE HULL

PHOTOS AMANDA RENÉ NAGY

Sun Valley Wedding Guide

BEAUTY

EXTEN IV

EXTEN (formerly known as Elevated Hydration) was founded by a physician and nurse from the local Emergency Department based on the belief that you don’t have to be sick to get better. Serving the Ketchum and Boise areas, we are an Idaho-based business dedicated to helping individuals achieve optimal health and well-being using IV hydration and vitamin therapy. EXTEN offers a comprehensive menu of vitamin drips, like our Super Immunity and the unbelievable beauty enhancing and energy boosting NAD+ infusions—a unique formula designed to detoxify your body and optimize cellular and skin health that is perfect for brides, or anyone wanting to present their very best self. Fuel your well-being!

208.309.8079 | exteniv.com

PURE MEDICAL SPA

Idaho’s secret for more youthful looking skin, PURE Medical Spa offers dermaplaning, HydrafacialTM MD, LED Therapy, Forever Young BBL, Halo Laser, Injectibles, Fillers, Cool Sculpting, Laser Peels, Collagen Induction Therapy, and a selection of medical grade and dermatologist recommended skin care.

208.788.4747 | puremedicalspaidaho.com

THE LAB SV

Founded in 2021 by a team of like-minded individuals wanting to make a difference in people’s lives. With the goal of improving access to optimization therapies for Wood River Valley residents, The LAB is a unique medical facility that offers a variety of services that are proven to improve the health and well-being of men and women. Our team strives to provide the most up-to-date and effective therapies for our patients. We also prioritize convenience by offering on-site laboratory testing and stocking a variety of pharmaceuticals and products in-house.

208.944.9666 | thelabsv.com

Everything you need to create your special day is available right here in the valley

photo Kirsten Shultz

ZENERGY DAY SPA

Zenergy is the Valley’s premier health club and spa. This 48,000-square-foot facility features a world-class spa with nine treatment rooms, a variety of massage modalities, acupuncture, reflexology, a nail salon, Greg Hinshaw’s hair studio, and tanning services. The health club includes indoor and outdoor saline pools, tennis courts, cardiovascular and weight training gym, squash court, Pilates, group fitness, indoor cycling, and yoga studios—but that’s just the beginning of all that Zenergy has to offer.

208.725.0595 | zenergysv.com

CATERING & EVENT LOCATIONS AT YOUR PLACE CATERING

Steven & Becky Ludwig are people with a simple goal. We want to make you happy! If you are happy, then we have done our job. It all starts with listening to you, the client, to ensure the details are not missed. Steven & Becky have been cooking together for over 20 years, with stops at Charlie Trotter’s, Boulevard, Hawthorne Lane and Farallon. Building on the knowledge obtained during our culinary journey, we enjoy creating dishes and menus unique to each client and event. From intimate dinner parties to opulent weddings, we place an emphasis on sourcing local, fresh, sustainable ingredients whenever possible from the Wood River Valley. Trust us to help create your personalized Idaho wedding experience and bring your culinary vision to life.

208.720.0140 | atyourplacecatering.com

IDAHO ROCKY MOUNTAIN RANCH

Nestled among hillside pines and aspen, the 900-acre Idaho Rocky Mountain Ranch offers the perfect base to explore the Sawtooth National Recreation Area. Pry yourself away from your beautifully appointed cabin to revel in activities showcasing the Sawtooth Valley’s best. Enjoy everything from hiking, mountain biking, and horseback riding on scenic trails to climbing pristine peaks, fishing trout-filled waters, swimming, and rafting the clear lakes and rivers. Relax and take in the gorgeous Sawtooth Mountains from front-porch rocking chairs, read by the fire, or stargaze from the natural hot springs pool.

208.725.3000 | idahorocky.com

JUDITH MCQUEEN

ENTERTAINING

It’s no understatement to call Judith McQueen a legendary Sun Valley chef…ask around, it’s true. Her relentless pursuit of marrying food and beauty is both her calling and her passion. Judith’s current endeavor, the catering and entertainment company she founded in 1998, Judith McQueen Entertaining, is the culmination of her 33 years as a professional chef, six years in corporate food service, and nearly two decades of events, party planning, and corporate functions. Judith McQueen

Entertaining delivers unparalleled service, tailormade cuisine, and pitch-perfect atmosphere every time. Your affair—whether a wedding, a shower, or an intimate dinner with your closest friends—will be a memorable one!

208.720.2657 | judithmcqueen.com

RASBERRYS CATERING

Fresh, locally grown food prepared with creative flair. Callie and Maeme Rasberry were born in the bi-cultural city of El Paso, Texas, on the border of New Mexico and Old Mexico. Growing up on a farm, they learned to appreciate the seasonality of ingredients. Whether tending to the garden, bees or chickens, the love of fresh, local ingredients was born. The girls learned to cook family recipes from Italy, the Middle East, the East Coast, West Coast and of course Texas. Prepared with love. Presented with joy. Proud to cook and work with you.

208.726.0606 | rasberrys.net/catering

SUN VALLEY RESORT

A lifetime of memories begins right here. With sweeping views of the majestic Pioneer Mountains and the warmth and charm of a historic ski town, Sun Valley Resort is an idyllic destination to kick off your happily ever after. As a full-service resort, all of our facilities fall under one umbrella, simplifying the planning of everything from horseback rides to cocktail hour.

208.622.2101 | sunvalley.com

EVENT/WEDDING PLANNERS

ABSOLUTE WEDDINGS

Absolute Weddings is a full-service wedding and event planning business that has been operating and making dreams come true in the Valley for over 10 years. We will help you with all details, from invitations and save-thedates, to appointments, vendor selection and budgeting. Absolute Weddings’ hands-on approach allows you to relax and enjoy this special time with friends and family. We will take over all details to make your event, day and experience stress-free.

208.720.4713 | amandaseaward.com

HEATHER MINOR EVENTS

Heather Minor Events offers creative wedding planning and event planning services that will help you create an event that reflects your own personality and style. We are here to make your magical day a reality from start to finish. Our proven approach ensures that your event will be meticulously planned and perfectly executed so you can sit back and enjoy. We look

forward to working, with your help, to plan your big day or next event.

208.309.1014 | heatherminorevents.com

FASHION/DRESSES PANACHE

Panache is a clothing boutique located on the mall in Sun Valley. We carry exclusive and unique brands that are hard to find anywhere else—fantastic pieces that will make you stand out in a crowd.

208.622.4228 | panachesunvalley.com

THE WILDFLOWER

The Wildflower is an eclectic clothing boutique located in the heart of Hailey, Idaho. This unique shop was created to fill a clothing, jewelry and gift idea niche that was missing in the town of Hailey—a place where locals could shop for interesting, thoughtful clothing, jewelry and gift ideas with the goal of helping each customer feel their very best. The Wildflower offers an array of women’s and men’s clothing, accessories, shoes,

and personal essentials. From silk to cashmere, a trip to this distinctive store is an opportunity to sample from fashion’s latest trends. Stop by this beautiful store to find the perfect piece to wear or gift to give.

208.788.2425 | thewildfloweridaho.com

FLORISTS TARA BELLA FLOWERS

Tara Bella specializes in beautiful destination weddings and eye-popping special events. Celebrated for her unique style and meticulous attention to detail, Tara Ooms and her talented staff tailor custom elegant floral designs for every occasion. Ooms’ passion for flowers shines through with the grace and hospitality that only a true Southern belle could possess.

208.788.4046 | tarabellaflowers.com

GIFTS + GEAR

BACKWOODS MOUNTAIN SPORTS

Backwoods Mountain Sports is an outdoor shop run by enthusiasts for enthusiasts. The best way to enjoy the mountains is with the best gear. Visit the local experts at Backwoods to get outfitted and learn where to go—everyone at Backwoods loves to get out and play, and we’re happy to share (most) of our favorite spots with you! So come on in, ask a few questions, pick up a few lastminute things and GET OUT THERE!

208.726.8818 | backwoodsmountainsports.com

SILVER CREEK OUTFITTERS

Silver Creek Outfitters, simply put, defines the Sun Valley lifestyle. From cashmere to caddis flies, we carry hand-selected items of the finest quality that will take you for a day on the river to an evening on the town. Offering the finest selection of ladies and mens clothing and accessories. Here, the best in mountain fashion mingles seamlessly with must-have gear from top brands in outdoor wear, offering guests a beautiful collection of everything they need to look like a local.

208.726.5282, 800.732.5687 | silver-creek.com

photo Dev Khalsa flowers Tara Bella Flowers

JEWELRY BARRY PETERSON JEWELERS

Since 1971, Barry Peterson has been matching the elegant beauty and sophisticated elegance of Sun Valley with his stunning jewelry designs. Come find your special jewelry for your big day or custom-design gifts for your bridal party or groomsmen. 208.726.5202 | barrypeterson.com

NAIFEH FINE JEWELERY AT THE SUN VALLEY RESORT

After 25 years trailblazing the luxury jewelry market in Oklahoma City, Valerie Naifeh of Naifeh Fine Jewelry has expanded to a second location in the iconic Sun Valley Resort where the beloved Towne & Parke Jewelry resided for 33 years. An awardwinning designer known for her carefully curated selection of dazzling global jewelry, art and gifts, Naifeh Fine Jewelry specializes in one-of-a-kind pieces for a collector of any age, starting at just $300.00. Synonymous with craftsmanship, value and sustainability, Valerie is famous for her eponymous, colorful line of fine jewelry and known for her superlative custom jewelry designs. With

state-of-the-art equipment and a team of nine artisan jewelers in her arsenal, anything you dream up Naifeh Fine Jewelry can do! 208.622.3522 | naifehfinejewelry.com

PHOTOGRAPHERS

DEV KHLASA PHOTOGRAPHY

I am a documentary photographer at heart, but, to me, photographing weddings is more than simply capturing the moments before me. Providing truly great images goes beyond technical expertise. It requires insight, intuition and the ability to connect on an emotional level. Success, for me, is measured by the amount of laughter and tears my images provoke. My goal is to create images that are bold, authentic and enduring. As a wedding photographer, I am devoted not only to creating spectacular images, but also to ensuring a wonderful experience for my clients. 208.788.2849 | devkhalsaphotography.com

AMANDA RENÉ PHOTOGRAPHY

Amanda René is a multi-talented photographer offering a variety of services

to the Valley while specializing in wedding photography. If you are looking for a photographer to capture special images of your wedding and more, look no further.

Amanda René also offers services for family portraits and senior pictures.

615.495.0789 | amandarene.com

HILLARY MAYBERY PHOTOGRAPHY

A SoCal girl at heart, I fell in love with photography after discovering the darkroom in high school, but put that dream on hold to pursue my passion for sports. At 23, I became one of the first female professional snowboarders. I spent the next 10 years traveling the world competing in various events (including the X Games), but always knew that I would come back to photography. My goal is to approach each wedding from a unique perspective and love for the joy of mountain living. I love what I do, and take pride in a knack for noticing and capturing what makes my clients special.

208.720.3817 | hillarymayberyweddings.com

KIRSTEN SHULTZ PHOTOGRAPHY

An award-winning editorial and wedding lifestyle photographer, unobtrusively documenting the beauty of the day as it unfolds. Recently featured in Martha Stewart Weddings . Available in Sun Valley and worldwide.

208.481.0138 | ksweddings.com

TRANSPORTATION

MOUNTAIN RESORT SERVICES

Mountain Resort Services offers chauffeured transportation using professional local drivers with over 75 years of combined experience in local knowledge. Their fleet of luxury 4x4 SUVs, luxury high-top vans, grand motor coaches and mini coaches, ensures that your group can travel to and from your event with the utmost in service and luxury. From wedding-day transportation and rehearsal dinners to pre- and post-wedding group tours, we’ll implement the perfect transportation and tour plans for your group. Make it a vacation—leave the details to us. 208.726.9351 | mountain-resort-services.com

photo Hillary Maybery

A WALK TO REMEMBER

Beginning a journey with the one you love is always something special. Megan and Mark’s path started on the Appalachian Trail in 2018 and continued to their elopement in the Idaho Wilderness a few years later. The couple professed their love to one another during their vows, with the beautiful vistas as their private cathedral. Read about their elopement wedding on page 130.

PHOTO AMANDA RENÉ NAGY